PLAY WITH WINDOWS XP

Removing Shared Documents folder From My Computer window:

Open registry editor by going to Start then Run and entering regedit. Once in registry, navigate to key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFolders

You must see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this key, you have effectively removed the my shared documents folder.

Renaming The Recycle Bin icon:

To change the name of the Recycle Bin desktop icon, click Start then goto Run, write Regedit and press Enter. It opens Registry Editor. Now in Registry Editor 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:

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.

Removing the Shortcut arrow from Desktop Icons:

Goto Start then Run and Enter regedit. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTlnkfile. Delete the IsShortcut registry value. You may need to restart Windows XP.

Restarting Windows without Restarting the Computer:

This one is again is. When you click on the SHUTDOWN button, make sure to simultaneous press SHIFT Button. If you hold the Shift key down while clicking on SHUTDOWN button, you computer would restart without restarting the Computer. This is equivalent to term "HOT REBOOT".

Removing the Recycle Bin from the Desktop:

If you don't use the Recycle Bin to store deleted files , you can get rid of its desktop icon all together. Run Regedit and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/explorer/Desktop/NameSpace

Deleting The Index.Dat File:

The INDEX.DAT file keeps a record of all the web sites you have visited.

Normally you can't simply delete this file since it is protected by the operating system.

However, there is a way:

Close all running applications

Open a command window (CMD.EXE)

Go to to C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 (where username is the replaced by your current login name)

Start the Task Manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc)

Click on the Processes tab

Select EXPLORER.EXE and click on End Process

The screen will be blank except for the command window

Delete the INDEX.DAT file

Go back to the Task Manager

Do File / Run / Explorer and the desktop will be back

Shutdown Icon Explained:

As in XP Tips Part 1WindowsXP has a program called SHUTDOWN.EXE which allows you to easily create icons to shutdown or restart your computer.

To create a shutdown shortcut on the desktop:

Right click on an open area of the desktop

Select New / Shortcut

Enter in "shutdown -s -t 00" - no quotes

Press the Next button

For the name, enter in anything you like. I just use shutdown. Click on the Finish button.

For a reboot, enter "shutdown -r -t 00"

Shutdown [{-l|-s|-r|-a}] [-f] [-m [\\ComputerName]] [-t xx] [-c "message"] [-d[p]:xx:yy]

Parameters:

-l - Logs off the current user, this is also the defualt. -m ComputerName takes precedence.

-s - Shuts down the local computer.

-r - Reboots after shutdown.

-a - Aborts shutdown. Ignores other parameters, except -l and ComputerName. You can only use -a during the time-out period.

-f - Forces running applications to close.

-m [\\ComputerName] - Specifies the computer that you want to shut down.

-t xx - Sets the timer for system shutdown in xx seconds. The default is 20 seconds.

-c "message" - Specifies a message to be displayed in the Message area of the System Shutdown window. You can use a maximum of 127 characters. You must enclose the message in quotation marks.

Hiding Your Computer In a Workgroup:

These settings will permanently hiding your computer from a workgroup:

Open registry, START --> RUN --> Type 'Regedit'

Double click on 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE'

Double click on 'SYSTEM'

Double click on 'CurrentControlSet'

Double click on 'Services'

Double click on 'LanmanServer'

Single click on 'Parameters'

On the right panel, Create a new DWORD

value, or modify the existing value, named "Hidden" and set it to "1". (Without Quots)

Close the Registry, then restart your

computer.

To Disable Right-Click On Desktop:

Goto Start> RUN and Enter REGEDIT. Browse the following key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Sofware\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer

Create a new DWORD (edit ;new ; dwordvalue ;). With a value=1 ( Rightclick on the newly created DWORD and click on modify then change its value to 1)

Restart Your Computer and you are done.

Breaking The XP Password:

In case of user password boot the pc in safemode by pressing the F8 key and then selecting the Safe Mode option. You can now logon as an administrator and XP wont prompt for the password. Incase of an administrator account try rebooting the pc in DOS. access C:\Windows\system32\config\sam . Rename SAM as SAM.mj

Now XP wont ask for password next time You Login. Also

Go to the cmd prompt .

Type net user *.

It will list all the users.

Again type net user "administrator" or the name of the administrator "name" *.

e.g.: net user aaaaaa *(where aaaaaa is the name).

It will ask for the password.

Type the password and there you are done.

Logging In As Administrator:

Hold the Ctrl-Alt key and press Del twice. This will bring up the normal login and you can log on as Administrator.

To unhide the Administrator account so it does show up:

Start Regedit

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList

Unhide the Administrator key by giving it a value of 1

or 1.Put u r windows XP bootabel cd in cd rom

2.Boot u r PC thr. CD

3.Start installation select to Repair u r installation.

4.AS soon as it will start "installing Device" press SHIFT+F10

5.It will open cmd.

6. type NUSRMGR.CPL

7.U Done.

8.Clear u r password by seleting u r account

Block USB Devices

Block USB Devices

To this what can be done is that the USB can be blocked and then stopping the use of USB drives. Here is a simple registry hack to do so, try it with care.

1. Go to Start –> Run, type Regedit.

2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlset\Services\USBStor

3. In the right pane, look for value Start and have value as 0000000(3)

4. Double click on that and change that value to 4.

You might be required to restart the PC, and then you are done with it, USB is now blocked.

In case if you want to get the USB unblocked, just change the value again to 3.
See, its so easy. Isn’t it