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Desktops
If you have a bunch of windows open on screen and see all the icons on your taskbar and you want to close them all, you can close all of them in swoop.
Just click on the first icon on the taskbar that you want to close. Hold down your Ctrl key and you click on all the other ones you want to close. Release the ctrl key and right click on one of them and choose Close (or Close Group).
Open Explorer and go to the folder:
XP Folder C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\SendTo
(Where Owner may be a different name)
Other Versions folder C:\Windows\Send To
On the right side you'll see the items currently available.
Open the Control Panel and go to your Printers so you can see a list of your printer(s) installed.
Click and drag your printer to the other explorer where your Send To list is. It'll automatically create a shortcut there.
XP:
You would use this if you've lost the icon that you normally have there by default with XP.
Open Explorer and go to the folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\SendTo
(where Owner may be another name)
On the left side of your explorer, about 7 icons up, you'll see the folder called Desktop.
Using the right mouse button (not the left, or you'll move it), Right click and drag the Desktop folder into the right pane, where the Send To folder's contents are still displayed. Let go, choose Create Shortcut Here, and there's your new menu item. On the right side now, you can rename it from Shortcut To Desktop to just plain Desktop.
Other versions folder:
Open Explorer and go to the folder:
C:Windows\Send To
On the left side of your explorer, scroll up the left pane, until you see the Desktop folder, which is also in the Windows folder.
Using the right mouse button (not the left, or you'll move it), Right click and drag the Desktop folder into the right pane, where the Send To folder's contents are still displayed. Let go, choose Create Shortcut Here, and there's your new menu item. On the right side now, you can rename it from Shortcut To Desktop to just plain Desktop.
If you use your SendTo option a lot, you might like this little gem.
When you right-click on a file to SendTo somewhere, you'll notice that it is organized in numerical order and then alphabetical order. If you use the option to send to the 3½ Floppy drive (A:) most of the time, no problem. It's already on top. However, if you find that you send more files to your own special directory, i.e. c:\0Tracy\, or even your Printer (you can print without opening a program, did you know that?). Then you may want one of those on top.
If you don't already have it set up, open an Explorer and navigate you way to the C:\Window\ (just to have it opened and available for the next step)
Now, find the directory that you want to have available for your SendTo option and RIGHT-click and hold on that directory. Next, while you are still holding it down, drag it down until the directory C:\Windows\SendTo is highlight, then release the mouse and select Create Shortcut Here.
Next, if you want, click on the SendTo directory and press F2 and rename it. It's only a shortcut, so it doesn't really matter what you call it.
Now...to get back to where I was....organization. In the SendTo directory, click on the shortcut you use the most and press F2. Now rename it by placing a 1 at the beginning of the name. Do the same with the rest of the shortcuts by adding a 2, 3, 4, etc. to the rest. You can even use alphabetical if you want. See below. If you see some in there that you just don't use, all you have to do is delete them. After all they are only shortcuts, not programs that you'd be deleting.
Example:
0 Tracy
3 Floppy
a Printer
b Quattro Pro
c Mail Recipient
By the way, the second one, 1 Quattro Pro is a shortcut to the program. You can use SendTo to send a file to a program and have it open up.
Unsure if you really want to trash what's on that floppy? Here's a way to create a recycle bin for
your floppy drive.
In Explorer, create a new sub-directory of Windows.
Name it Recycle Floppy (or whatever you want)
Right-click on the folder and drag it to your desktop and choose Create Shortcut Here
Right-click on the new desktop icon, choose Properties.
Now change the icon to anything you want.
Now when you want to trash files on a floppy, just right-click on them in your Explorer and drag them to the new desktop icon and choose Move Here.
Remember to periodically check and empty your new "recycle bin"
Download the program Tweak from the net. You can change the arrow to a light arrow, change it to no arrow at all, or even change it completely. It's part of the PowerToys free from Microsoft
XP Version: Get it from Microsoft at:
PowerToys XP
Other Versions: Get it from Microsoft at: PowerToys
These screens are standard 320x400 bitmaps that can be edited with many different programs, including PAINT. These screens MUST be EXACTLY 320x400! And 127kb in size. Logow.sys and Logos.sys are the "wait" and "it is now safe to shutdown" screens, respectively. The startup screen is buried in a different file - but all you have to do to override the standard startup screens create a replacement (again, exactly 320x400), name it Logo.sys, and place it in your root directory.
You can change your Windows logo to something better.
Hint: Download the program IrfanView from the Internet. This program will allow you to resize almost any picture you want
Copy the file logos.sys from your c:\windows directory into your personal directory.
In your directory , double-click on the file logos.sys and use MS Paint to open it.
Choose Edit, Select All and press the delete key
Now create your own startup screen
Save file as logo.sys
In Explorer, move the file logo.sys to your C:\ directory
Reboot your system and you'll have your new logo.
The idea is to have one logo.sys file in your own directory and keep editing that one. You can always save the file as a .bmp and just rename later to logo.sys. Another key feature is that it must be 127kb and 320x400.
Another great address for Startup Logos for those who like to change their startup/shut down pictures: PCWorld
Press ALT+Space Bar,
From there, you can choose Minimize, or even Move, if you've lost your window.
To move it, choose Move, then use your up/down/left/right arrow keys to move it around. When you have it back in order, press the press <enter> key to set it in.
Want your screen saver to kick in whenever you say? Create a shortcut to it, then set up hot-key access to the shortcut.
In Explorer, find your screen savers in the Windows folder or in the Windows\System32 folder. Find the one you want. Right click and hold and drag it to your desktop. Release the click and choose Create Shortcut Here.
Now you can set up your shortcut or hot key if you want. Right click on the shortcut and choose Properties, then click on the Shortcut tab. Place the cursor anywhere on the Shortcut key line, press any key, and Windows adds the Ctrl+Alt part automatically. Click OK to close the dialog box. Ready for a test run? Try pressing the shortcut key you just set up.
Screensaver On-Off Switch
This is a great tip for turning your screen saver off (and back on) when you are burning CD's and running Defrag
Step 1: Create a text document in any folder you'd like. Recommended folder is one that you save during your backups (which you do, right?), such as My Documents
In that text document you create, type (or copy) the following exactly as shown
------------- copy from below here ------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ScreenSaveActive"="0"
---------- to above here -----------------
Click on File, Save As. In the box for Files Of Type, change it to read All Files. Then name the file "SaverOff.reg" (include those quote marks)
Now to change the "0" to a "1" and click on File, Save As and name this one as "SaverOn.reg" (again...include those quote marks)
You can now delete the New Text Document.txt file what was created.
Step 2: On your desktop right click and choose New Shortcut
In this step, I've used the example for the default My Documents folder. You can use any folder you'd like, but kee the ending part of SaverOff.reg.
XP
In the box type:
regedit /s "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\SaverOff.reg"
Click on Next and type a name for your shortcut such as: Screen Saver - OFF
Click on Finish
Other Versioins
In the box type
regedit /s "C:\My Documents\SaverOff.reg"
Click on Next and type a name for your shortcut such as: Screen Saver - OFF
Click on Finish
Repeat step 2 but this time at the end of the path have SaverOn.reg instead of SaverOff.reg (don't forget the " marks) and name the shortcut, such as Screen Saver - ON
FYI: the part that starts with regedit /s means that the registry will be changed in the Silent mode, meaning you won't have to click on anything...it'll just happen without you knowing it.
On the destkop, right click on the 'Screen Saver - On' icon and choose properties.
Click on Change Icon. There are plenty in there to choose from. Double click on the one you want. Then choose OK
Right click on the 'Screen Saver - OFF' icon, choose Properties, then Change Icon. There's a good one in there that's a red circle with the line through it...like a Do Not Enter sign. That's what I chose anyway.
If you now double click on the Screen Saver - Off icon, then the screen saver will not activate.
The way to test it is this:
Set your screen saver to 1 minutes
Let your computer set for 1 minute and the screen saver will kick in.
Double click on the Screen Saver Off icon.
Wait one minute and you'll see that the trick worked.
When in doubt, and you DO want the screen saver on....just double click on the Screen Saver - On icon on your desktop and you'll be good to go.
NOTE: If you try to see what it does by going to you screen saver dialog box (where you choose your screen saver), it will NOT show that the Screen Saver is set to None...it will remain at what you currently have.
Every time you click on Start, Programs, Accessories, Windows Explorer, it goes to a certain folder (Probably the My Documents folder).
You then have to navigate your way around to where you really want to go (like your CD drive, or your second hard drive)
Make it start where you really want to go:
Go to Start, Programs, Accessories, and Right click and drag the Windows Explorer icon to the desktop. Choose Create shortcut here.
Right click on the new icon on your desktop and choose Properties
In the top line is where you make your changes
You might want it to start in your second hard drive. It the top line would look like this:
c:\windows\explorer /e, E:\
Then click on Change icon and give it a new look.
Then click on OK. Right click on that icon and choose Rename. Give it a name you'll recognize like E Drive
What about opening it to your CD drive. It would look like this:
c:\windows\explorer /e, D:\
Create as many as you want. Just change the icons and rename them all.
Note: If you want to use a folder such as your Program Files folder, then the entire path in the last part must be in " marks.
Example: c:\windows\explorer /e, "C:\Program Files"
Right click on the desk top, select New, Text Document. Now just start typing. Your note will appear on the board. (You may want to change the icon, I did)
Open Explorer, View, Options, File Types, & Exit the Text Documents, change icon to something a little more appropriate.
Tired of looking at those basic looking icons? Well here's you chance to change them without changing the association.
For example, you know that all *.cfg are configuration files, right? Well Instead of having that ugly looking basic icon, you can change it, without changing anything else. Just go do View, Options, File Type, New, Give it a name such as Configuration File, type in CFG, change the icon to anything you want and press Close. This won't open any program, but it will give you an icon you can recognize quicker.
++++ Note: don't do anything with the cursor or animated cursors associations. You'll really screw up things
Do you have a great stationery you'd like to see on your desktop? (including musical and/or animated stationery). How about a web document you have on your computer?
Well you can do it ! ! !
Right-click on the desktop and choose Properties Click on the Background tab, then choose Browse.
Navigate your way to the Stationery directory (or the directory where the HTML file is). Select the stationery (or HTML file) you want to use.
Click on Open, then OK.
This will take a few steps, but in the end you can have different desktop layout, depending on your mood and/or children
XP
Go to Control Panel, User Accounts. Click on Create new Account. Type in the name for the new person and click on Next
Choose between Computer Administrator or Limited. See the descriptions below those to help you choose.
click on Create Account
Each time the computer starts, the user chooses the name/account they want to use. All of their desktop pictures, icons, sounds Start Menu layout, etc will be set for THEIR way.
Bonus: You can change from one person to another easily: Go to Start, Log Off, then log on as the other user.
Other Versions
Go to Control Panel, Passwords, Click on Users can customize their preferences..., check both of the
bottom boxes.
Press OK and let windows reset.
Select Start, Shut down, Close all programs and sign on a new user.
Now, type a name for your second desktop layout. You don't have to choose a password if you
don't want it. Just type in the name and press <enter>.
Each time windows starts, it will start with the last layout used. If you want to change, just go
back to Start, Shut down, Close all programs....a new user, then type your other name.
You'll see a new subdirectory in your windows directory. These are the names of each profile and
their setting layouts, You can make changes from that directory as far as the Start Menu is
concerned.
Add a number to all shortcuts on the start menu. Then you can place them in any order you please. Also you can just type numbers instead of moving the mouse around to get where you want.
OR
Try clicking and holding on the item you want to move, then drag it to where you want it to be. While you are holding the click down and dragging, you'll see a black line. That represents that you are moving the item and will show you where it will be when you release the click.
Start Menu picture change
XP
You probably have a chess piece for your picture on your Start Menu. Yuk (if you don't play chess)
Change it:
Go to the Start Menu and click right ON that picture.
Now..pick a new one. You're not limited to those, you can click on Browse for more pictures and pick one of your OWN pictures if you want. XP will size it according to it's needs...so no need to find a tiny picture.
Once you do, you'll see a new dialog box. If you don't like the picture you just chose, click on Change My Picture and try again.
There are 2 ways you can do it. If you don't want to use the program Tweak (see down further) then you can do this manually in Regedit (after you backup the files system.dat and user.dat if desired)
In Regedit, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
On the left side, click ON the folder called Explorer.
Right click on the right side in a blank area and choose New, DWORD Value
Type: NoLogOff
(or for removing Favorites, then type: NoFavoritesMenu)
(or for removing the Documents, then type: NoRecentDocsMenu)
Press your enter key
Double click on that, then were the 0 is highlighted...just type the number 1, then click on OK
Close Regedit and it's gone.
To put it back on the Start Menu, then go to Regedit again in the same place, then double click on the right side on the item you want to restore and change it from 1 to 0.
**OR**
There is a program add-on for Windows called TweakUI that can do this for you.
XP Version: Get it from Microsoft at:
PowerToys XP
Other Versions: Get it from Microsoft at: PowerToys
You can "Rename" the shortcuts anywhere on your computer to shorter, more coherent names. Just rename them to something more familiar.
Do this just by clicking once on the shortcut icon. Then right click on it and choose Rename. Type any name you want. If you type something you shouldn't, Windows will tell you. There are certain characters you are not allowed to use.
It's quite convenient to have your control panel listed on your start menu just like the the others there.
XP Directions:
Right click on the Start button and choose Properties
Click on Customize, then click on the Advanced tab
At the top, put the circle in the dot for Display As Menu
Other versions:
Place a cascading Control Panel menu on your Start menu by right-clicking on the Start button
and selecting Open. Create a new folder and give it the following name:
Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
(the only spaces there are in the above line is between the words Control & Panel. There are 2 spaces there. Don't forget the " . " after the word Panel)
Dial-Up icon on Start Menu
XP
Open Control Panel, go to Network and Internet Connections
Click on Network Connections (in the bottom right corner)
Right click and HOLD on your dial-up icon. As you are holding the right click, drag your mouse to the Start button (don't let go), wait for your Start Menu to pop up (don't let go yet), then hover over All Programs (don't let go...not yet). As the All Programs pops up, and as you're still holding that right click, move up to the top of the list and THEN you can release the right click. Choose Create Shortcut Here.
If you decide you don't want it, then just click on Start, Programs, and right click on that new icon for your dial-up and choose Delete
Other Versions
In an explorer, go to C:\Windows\Start Menu. Click on File, New Folder. For the name of
the folder type the following:
(Note that there's no space between the period and the open bracket)
DUN.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
Now just press Enter
If you decide you don't want it, then just click on Start, Programs, and right click on that new icon for your dial-up and choose Delete
Just for fun, you can change the colors of the blue title bar, width of the scroll bars, and even the font of the menu bars.
Right-click on the desktop and choose Properties. Click on the Appearance tab.(XP - click on Advanced next). Now play around with all those settings.
Click on anywhere in that big box, you will see changes in the bottom section of the item you want to change. Manually, you can just click Item and select the specific item you want to change.
Hint 1: you can start by clicking on the down arrow for Scheme. There are pre-set scheme to choose from. Then try and change one to more of your liking.
Hint 2: If you screwed up and want to change it back to normal, select the Windows Standard scheme.
XP addition: After you play with those, click on OK and then try choosing from the drop down list for Windows And Buttons box, you can change from the harse blue taskbar and icons to a more mild olive green or a silver style.
If you find that you are always going to Start, Program Files, Microsoft Word, Word (and you go there almost everyday), just place the shortcut on your Start Menu.
In an Explorer, go to Windows\Start Menu\Program Files\Accessories and click on the shortcut to MS Paint. Now drag it to the left side of the window and drop it on Start Menu.
From now on, all you have to do is go to Start, MS Paint.
Have you Start Menu take up less space (and get rid of the Windows logo that goes up the side)
XP
Right click on the Start button and choose Properties
Click on Customize and put the dot in the cirlcle for Small Icons. Click on OK, then OK again.
Other Versions
Just click on Start, Settings, Taskbar, and place a checkmark in the box for Show Small Icons in
Start Menu.
The results will preview in the box for you, just to give you an idea of what will happen.
Start Menu not showing Open or Explore with right click
If you right click on the Start button, and you can't choose Open, or Explorer, you can fix it (you probably made the change in Tweak (from the PowerToys) and didn't know what the results were...I did):
Open Tweak click on the + for My Computer, then click on Drives. Make sure that ALL drives had a checkmark for them
Tired of seeing the words My Computer on your desktop? Give it some class! Right click on it and choose Rename. and Rename it!
Whenever you change an icon, you'll be offered the default source of icons. It's a file called shell32.dll in the c:\Windows\System (or C:\Windows\System32) folder. But there's another file hidden in the System folder called pifmgr.dll or moricons.dll in the c:\Windows folder (or C:\Windows\System32 folder).
But there are some .dll files that have icons, and some that don't. How do you know which do, and which don't?
Here's a time to go to Regedit. Don't do this if you feel uncomfortable in going to Regedit.
In Regedit, navigate your way to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\DefaultIcon
Right-click the icon on the right side and select Modify. Change the value so it only reads: %1
Close Regedit and reset your computer.
Next time when you go looking for an icon, check the icon of the .dll files. If it's different, (not the old un-associated windows icon) then there are icons to be found.
To change it back, replace %1 with:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\shell32.dll,-154
for XP, reset it to: %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-154
Did you know that?
Yes you can use the image of a cursor as an icon on your desktop (or for any shortcut)
Just do the same as you normally do to change an icon (right click on the shortcut, select Properties, Change Icon, Browse). But this time navigate your way to the C:\Windows\Cursors directory. You will need to change the Type (bottom left corner) to All Files. Then just select a cursor. Your shortcut will now look like your favorite cursor
And do the same if you want to use a icon as a cursor. Just use the browse, and have it show All Files and go find one.
If the image you want to use for your desktop is just to small, you can utilize a stretch feature.
After you choose your image, make sure that you have the Center option set. Wow, that makes it fit. Watch out for
special images, like planets, circles and such that need to maintain a ratio.
If your icons on the desktop look distorted or kind of "weird", the problem is probably the size. Right-click on your desktop, select Properties, Appearance. Click on the down arrow for Item: and choose Icon. Change the size. It will be a trial and error process until you get the icon to appear properly again.
Only go here if you feel comfortable modifying the registry.
Start the Regedit (Start, Run, Regedit)
Navigate your way to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Right click on the word (Default) in the right pane and select Modify. Change the words from
Recycle Bin to whatever name you want to use. Some use Trash Bin. Others (like me) have it
called Toilet.
If you have Norton installed, you can rename it that way to by right clicking on the recycle bin, choose Properties, then change the Title there.
Give your Start Menu items numbers. This will keep your hands on the keyboard and stop you from moving your mouse up and down.
Right-click on the Start button and select Open. (In XP, next click on Programs). Rename each item by placing a number in front of it. Now you can open the Start menu by pressing Ctrl+Esc (or pressing your Windows key on your keyboard right next to the Alt key). Then just launch a program by pressing its associated number.
You can quickly change the order in which you view the start menu. Personally I like to have my shortcut to the control panel at the top of the list when I press Start).
So, in a nutshell, click on Start, then right-click and hold on any item you want to move, then drag it to where you want it to be. You will see a black horizontal line that will show you where it will be when you let go of the mouse.
You can do this to any item anywhere on your start menu, including any submenu's on the start menu, EXCEPT any items below (and including) Programs.
To sort your Start Menu alphabetically, click on Start, Programs, then right click in any area and choose Sort By Name. All your folders and icons on that menu will be sorted A-Z with all the folders first and shortcut icons in the next section.
Have you found a picture on the Internet that you would like to have as your wallpaper on your desktop. Right click on the image and press Set As Wallpaper. If you check your explorer, you see that you now have a new file automatically as a .bmp.
If the image you found wasn't on the Internet, then another option is save the image in what ever directory you want. If the image isn't a .bmp, that's okay. All you need to do is to open the IrfanView program (click here to download this freebie program). Now open the file you just saved and press File, Save As... Change the file type to Windows bmp and save it.
XP
You don't need to have them as .bmp for XP, almost ANY image will do.
Say you like the rivets but the blue color just isn't your style and you want something more pastel. Well you can change the color in the blink of an eye.
Just open the MS Paint program (or any program that will open a *.bmp) and open the file rivets.bmp. Click on Save As and give it a new name like rivets pastel.
Now view the image on zoom (View, Zoom, Large Size). Pick a tool, pick a color, and start making the changes.
When you're all done, select File, Save.
Next time you want to change your desktop wallpaper, you'll see "rivets pastel.bmp" as an option to choose from.
Even find that when you use the start menu it goes to slow for you? Or for that matter, to fast?
If you have the program Tweak (if not, click here to get this freebie! or see Option 2 below), you can adjust just how fast you want it to appear. Start Tweak, and select the Mouse tab. Adjust the slide for Menu Speed. Then to test it, do what it says: right click on the test icon.
Option 2:
If you don't have Tweak and don't want it, you can still adjust the speed.
Go to Start, Run, and type Regedit. Navigate your way to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Click on Edit, New, String Value. Type: MenuShowDelay and press [enter]. Now double-click on MenuShowDelay and type in a number between 1 and 10. (1 being the fastest and 10 being the slowest). Click on OK and restart the computer.
The problem with this method is that you will have to to a bit of trial and error. If you find you typed 1 for the value and it's definitely to fast, you'll have to go through the Regedit again andchange the value to, say, a 3. Then restart the computer again.
I recommend getting Tweak. Besides, it's FREE! from Microsoft's pack of PowerToys.
If you use the Auto Arrange feature for Windows to arrange your icons on your desktop, you can adjust how close they are, or even how big for that matter. Just right-click the desktop, select Properties, Appearance (in XP, click on Advanced next). Click on the arrow for Item, then select Icon Spacing (Horizontal) or Icon Spacing (Vertical) Now type a new number next to Size. Click Apply to see if you like it. If all is okay, then press OK to make your new settings stick. If not, then go and change the numbers again.
Do you have icons on your desktop that just don't need a name? Or that you don't want to have name?
Right click on the icon and choose Rename. Press and hold the Alt key and (on your numeric keypad with NumLock on) type 0160.
Release both and now you have an icon with no name.
Icons aren't looking like the classy XP for some users
XP
If you just can't seem to get your icons to have the XP look, while other users can, then you have to check Regedit
Navigate your way to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
On the right side, double click on 'Shell Icon BPP' and change the number to read: 16
Icon Shadows/Transparent stopped
XP
However, if you choose that you DON'T want to have them shadowed, there are 2 places you need to go:
Control Panel, System,Advanced tab, click on the button for Settings in the first section for Performance.
If you don't already and the circle in for Custom, click on that, then scroll to the bottom and uncheck the box for Use Drop Shadows for Icons Labels on the Desktop.
Having trouble locating your "lost" speaker for adjusting your volume?
Look no further. Just go to, Control Panel, Multimedia and place a checkmark in the box for Show Volume Control On The Taskbar. Then click on OK
Now you have it back.
Having trouble with your double-click. It just doesn't seem to activate at the rate you choose? You can fix that and have it adjust to what you want.
Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, Mouse. Change the speed in the Double-Click Speed section of the dialog box. If you think you have it right, just double-click on that cute little Jack-In-The-Box. If Jack pops up at the rate you double-clicked, then you should be just fine from then on. If not, then adjust again and try double-clicking on the box again. When you have it right, click on OK
You are still seeing that 'ole hourglass on your screen when your computer is working on it's own, are you?
Well try something different, just for the heck of it.
Go to the Control Panel and double-click on the Mouse icon, then click on the Pointers tab. Here you will see a listing of all the different pointers that Windows is currently using for different tasks.
Click on the hourglass for Busy, then select Browse. You will be taken to the directory of your cursors. Each icon you click on will show you a preview of what the pointer will do. Just keep trying different pointers until you find one you like. When you find one, click on Open, then click on Apply, and OK
You can find many cursors available throughout the Internet.
And...here are some files that I've copied from my computer. I've found most of them on the Internet in various places. Just download and extract them (with an un-zipping program like WinZip). Hands, Misc
After you've downloaded the files from the Internet, go to Control Panel, Mouse, Pointers. Then use the browse button to locate your new cursors. Just click on them one at a time. If you click on one that you don't want to keep, just press your delete key.
When you've decided what cursors to keep, just click on Cancel. Next, in an Explorer, Move all of your new cursors to the C:\Windows\Cursors directory. Then follow the steps at the beginning of this tip to change your mouse pointer.
If you don't like the style of time that you see at the bottom of your screen, you can change it to something more to your liking
You can check out the different styles and change it by:
Go to the Control Panel, Regional Settings, Click on the Time tab, then click on the down arrow for Time Style.
Select another style and press Apply to see what it looks like. The "tt" that you see at the end of the first 2 styles refer to having AM or PM show on the screen.
Online Services Unwanted on Desktop
One you're connected to the internet, you don't need any of those online services that are loaded on your computer. (Yes, you DO have probably have them installed by the company who sold you the computer..you just don't know it, but not necessarily)
So let's get rid of them and get some space back.
Go to Control Panel and open Add/Remove Programs. Click the Windows Setup tab or Windows Components, scroll down until you see Online Services, and then double-click it. Uncheck the boxes for the online services you don't use, and then click OK.
Do you have tiny icons there that you never use? You can easily remove them and get more space down there:
XP
Open a windows explorer and navigate your way to the folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
where owner could be your name
These are just shortcuts to the programs listed. You can delete any of them you want. Or you can any anything there you want.
Other Versions
Open a Windows Explorer and navigate your way to the folder:
C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
These are just shortcuts to the programs listed. You can delete any of them you want. Or you can any anything there you want.
QuickLaunch Restored
XP
Did you lose your QuickLaunch (by accident, or by upgrading to XP, or installing XP? Here's how you can get it back.
Right click on Start, choose Properties
Click on the tab at the top called Taskbar
The 5th box needs to be checked for Show QuickLaunch
Lose your Desktop Image and can't get it back?
Try This:
Open IE, if you have the button to display/not show images, click on it so, it will show images in IE on the web pages.
Not displaying images will download pages faster, but you will lose your desktop image.
You'll now have all the images in that folder in the list when you try to change the desktop image.
To revert it back, open the registry again and go to that same key listed above.
Double click on WallPaperDir and put this in:
%SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper
'Show Desktop' icon retrieved (after losing it)
If you've lost your Show Desktop icon, you CAN get it back...here's how:
Open NotePad
Copy and paste the following lines
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop
Click on File, Save. Click on the UP arrow on the toolbar, and keep clicking until you see My Computer showing in the top blank line. Then double click on C:, then double click on Windows. In the box for File Name, type in:
"Show Desktop.scf"
You MUST include the " marks
Open a Windows Explorer and go to the folder C:\Windows
Find the file you just created called Show Desktop, right click AND HOLD, then drag it to your Quick Launch and choose Create Shortcut Here
If you don't have your QuickLaunch showing and you want it back...then see the next tip below.
Fonts clearer with ClearType Font
XP
Using the Clear Type Font aspect of Windows XP, you can see your fonts better...especially on laptop computers.
Just give it a try and see what your icons names look like on your desktop.
Here's an example of the appearance of text with clear type and without. Notice how sharp and smooth using the Clear Type gives your fonts
Without Clear type
With Clear type
To make this change go to Control Panel, Display, click on the Appearance tab. Then click on the button for Effects
In the second box, put the check in for Use the following method to smooth edge of screen fonts. Then from the drop down list, choose ClearType.
My Computer icon back on desktop
XP
If you want to have your My Computer icon back on your desktop, you can. When you install Windows XP from a full installation CD, you probably lost it. Here's how to get it back
Right click on the desktop and choose Properties
Click on the Desktop tab, then click on the Customize Desktop button at the bottom
Put the check in any of the boxes at the top you want to have shown on your desktop.
Click on OK all the way back and you're done.
Themes: old theme with new XP style
XP
You have a theme from before...and it's all working properly. However, you like the new rounded feel that XP has when using Windows XP Style instead of the flat looking Windows Classic Style.
 |  |
Here's a way you can have both your theme...AND the new XP style
Go to where your themes are on your computer.
Right click on the .theme file and choose Open With. Then choose Open With. If you see Notepad listed...choose it. Otherwise click on Choose Program.
Ensure that the check is NOT in the box for 'Always use.....'
Double click on Notepad
Paste the following at the end of that document
[VisualStyles]
Path=%WinDir%resources\Themes\Luna\Luna.msstyles
ColorStyle=Metallic
Size=NormalSize
Now you have 3 choices:
If you like the silver look: Leave it as is
If you like the blue, change the word Metallic to NormalColor
If you like the greenish look: change the word Metallic to Homestead
Themes without buying a program to change them
XP
All the sites you go to and try to get new themes for XP tell you that you have to have a certain program...and they AREN'T free
Well, you CAN have new themes withOUT paying for those programs
Get the file you need from Softpedia
You'll need some sort of program to open the .rar file. I use WinZip.
If you can't get and open the .rar file, You can click on my link to get it in .zip format.
Read the instructions in the zip file and it'll tell you what to do.
Taskbar won't move
XP
This is your Taskbar
When you installed XP, your settings were probably set default to the taskbar being in a "locked" position. Meaning you can't resize it, move it, or move items on your QuickLaunch (or move that from one side to the other)
In a locked position, some of your icons in the QuickLaunch area may be showing...even if you don't want them to.
To unlock it so you CAN moving things around, right click on a blank are on the taskbar, choose Lock the Taskbar to remove the check next to it.
You can now move things around.
Shortcut underlines showing on menus again
XP
I use my keyboard a lot. I choose Alt+F to show the menu dropdowns on the File menu. However, XP seems to think that the underlined letter doesn't need to show because they probably think after all these years, we've learned them....NOT!!!
Here's how to get them back
Right click on your desktop and choose Properties.
Click on the Appearance tab, then click on Effects
Remove the bottom check for the box that says "Hide Underlined Letters for Keyboard Navigation Until I Press The Alt Key.
Recent Files listed with more than 15
If you want a longer list of Recent Documents, you can't have more tan 15 in the list on your Start Menu in the Recent Documents area, but you can have it a different way
Open a Windows Explorer and go to C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\
Or it may be in: C:\Windows\Profiles\Owner\Recent\
where Owner may be a different name
On the right side of the windows explorer, Right click and hold on the My Recent Documents (or Recent) folder and drag it on your Start Menu, but don't release the click yet. Keep holding over the Start button until it pops up..don't release yet....drag it up until All Programs pops up...don't release yet....now drag it up to the top and release the click and choose Create Shortcut Here
This will put a shortcut on your Start Menu in the Programs area
All Programs can't be see on the Start Menu
XP
If you can't see all your programs when you go to Start, Programs, here's the fix:
Right click on Start button and choose Properties.
Click Customize, then click on the Advanced tab
Scroll down most of the way to the bottom of that list to "Scroll Programs". If you have a checkmark there, the whole All Programs list will scroll so you can see everything. If it's not checkmarked, you are suppose to see all your programs at once. Hence, if you have to many and it fills the screen, you won't see them all. I recommend using the Scroll Programs aspect if you have that many.
QuickViewPlus 8 removed from systray
QuickViewPlus 8 removed from systray
If you have QuickViewPlus 8, you can have the icon in the systray go away when you close QVP.
Open the registry and go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Inso\Quick View Plus\Current Version\Features
Right click on ExitOnClose in the right pane and select Modify.
Change the Value Data field to 1.
Close regedit.
Start button word changed - Not for the faint of heart
Instead of having the word Start on your start button, you can have word with up to 5 letters like my new one:
First you need to get a Hex Editor. You can get a free program at:
Hex Editor
Go to the Windows folder and make a copy of the file explorer.exe
Save it in a safe folder somewhere OTHER than the Windows folder.
Make another copy of the original "Explorer.exe", rename it "Explorer1.exe" and leave it in the Windows folder.
Open your Hex Editor, then open the file called explorer1.exe from your Windows folder, then do a Search. In the search box, put the check in for Hex String and in the search box type:
00 52 00 54 00 68 00 65 00 72
that will find you where you need to be. If you look close you'll see (with spaces between the letters) the text that says There was an internal error and one of the windows you were using has been closed
Scroll up a line or 2 and you'll see something like this:
s*t*a*r*t*R*T*h*e*r*e
(The * are actually square boxes)
the s t a r t letters are the 5 letters that you can change
Close and save the file.
Open Regedit
Navigate your way to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
On the right side, double click on the value named "Shell" and change the value to read explorer1.exe.
Close Regedit and restart windows.
To revert back to the Start word and use the original explorer, go back to Regedit as before and change it from explorer1.exe to explorer.exe