The "Best Windows Tip You Know" Thread

[GodOne]

enable clear type! heres how: right click on desktop, appearance tab, effects, check "use the following method to smooth edges.." box and you're set. Much much nicer font rendering.

[roadgeek9]

Install Diskkeeper Disk Defragmenter. It is 5 times better than the defragmenter that comes with Windows XP (and the Vista one is just a disgrace).

[dysmatik]

turning off unnecessary services.

[shakey_snake]

turning off unnecessary services.

True that. Make sure you know what you're doing, though:

(good guides)

[nazgul]

Windows Key + Pause/Break. Opens up the "System" control panel (same as right clicking on My Computer and choosing properties).

[Mando]

1) password protect each account within XP ;) especially if there is only 1 user account (XP makes this an admin profile by default)

2) Instead of hunting down Remote Desktop Connection Icon in start menu, type mstsc into the run command (XPP only of course :p)

3) after every install of items that add to the profile startup or system startup use msconfig.exe in run command to select and unselect unwated apps. (Office quickfind, adobe reader speed up etc)

[Mando]

Install Diskkeeper Disk Defragmenter. It is 5 times better than the defragmenter that comes with Windows XP (and the Vista one is just a disgrace).

you do know that XPs defrag.exe is diskkeeper right, supplied under licence from Diskkeeper Technologies (diskkeeper lite) cant comment on vistas never seen or used it.

Edited December 4, 2007 by Mando

[ak03]

I must say, i have been reading this thread for about 2 days know and i must say it is a great thread. Also keep up the good joob herby!

[:: Lyon ::]

You know what the best thing is about these tips? You spent hours and days and weeks tweaking your windows.. and then something happens, and you have to reformat your windows and do it all over again lol

[JCalbert]

amzing thread guys!thanks...anyone knows how to recreate Win+Break in vista?command line?

[Joe Dirt]

OK, I'm in, most people probably know it:-

Double click the volume control in the system tray to get the mixer up

Press Ctrl+S

Tada! Ain't that prettier?

(Only found it works on the Windows Mixer)

OK, How do you get it back to normal size?

[Knife Party]

press Ctrl+S again :D

[nazgul]

amzing thread guys!thanks...anyone knows how to recreate Win+Break in vista?command line?

It still works in Vista.

[kewlceo]

you do know that XPs defrag.exe is diskkeeper right, supplied under licence from Diskkeeper Technologies (diskkeeper lite) cant comment on vistas never seen or used it.

The thing I don't like about Vista's implementation is that there's no graphical representation of what defrag is doing. Interesting about Diskkeeper, I didn't know that.

[devHead]

The thing I don't like about Vista's implementation is that there's no graphical representation of what defrag is doing.

I know I find that also kind of disappointing too. What's interesting is that Microsoft now says that the graphic representation that was shown in defragmenter from Win2000 and WinXP wasn't really accurate.

But the most annoying this is that if you want to defragment just a single volume, you have to do it from a command-line! Otherwise, even if you select a single drive (or volume) and bring up the Properties dialog box for it > Tools > Defragment, it will still bring up the defragmenter for all the drives!

So, the whole explanation "This tool will defragment files on the volume" should really be "This tool will defragment the files on every volume of every hard disk on this computer!"

This was adjusted in Windows Server 2008, and I understand it will also be coming with SP1 in Vista. But come on folks - what happened there?

[Grex]

Didn't see this one posted yet but this has definitely speed up my boot time. I have only tried on XP. This command line will defragment your boot files and moves applications to a faster location on your HDD. It can really improve boot time whether you're doing it from a clean install or not. I did it on my desktop computer and it decreased boot time significantly.

Defrag Boot Files by Command Line.

Here are the steps:

1. Click Start.

2. Then click Run...

3. Type in "cmd.exe" (without quotes).

4. Hit the Enter key.

5. Now type in "defrag c: -b" (without quotes):

6. Hit the Enter key.

DO NOT CLOSE THAT WINDOW YET

7. Now right-click on your taskbar.

8. Select Task Manager.

9. Switch over to the Processes tab.

10. Sort the processes by Image Name by clicking on that column.

11. Identify these two processes: defrag.exe and dfrgntfs.exe

NOW WAIT FOR THEM TO DISAPPEAR, IT MAY TAKE AWHILE BUT BE PATIENT.

12. Once they are gone, close Task Manager.

13. Switch over to the original cmd.exe window.

14. Type in "exit" (without quotes).

15. Hit the Enter key and the window will close.

16. Restart and rejoice!

[Jonny Wright]

Sorry if this one has already been posted but here goes...

If, like me, you like your "My Documents" folder nice and neat by having many subdirectories ie My Downloads, My eBay, My System Tools etc you can change the icons for these folders by right clicking the folder, Properties, Customize then Change Icon. However I find some activities such as moving this folder often causes you to lose the lovely icon you have set to it.

I find a better way of changing the icon is...

Open the folder you want to customize and create a text file and enter the text:

[.ShellClassInfo]
ConfirmFileOp=0
NoSharing=1
IconFile=Folder.ico
IconIndex=0
InfoTip=Some sensible information.

Replace Folder.ico for the path of the icon you want to use (I usually copy the icon file to the folder your customizing and set it as hidden).

Now save this file and rename it as Desktop.ini (I tend to set it as hidden too).

You can customize it ever further however I won't go into detail, but check the link below.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/b...832(VS.85).aspx

Hope it helps!

[devHead]

Create a text file with the contents of your directories (and subdirectories):

1. Open a command prompt

2. Navigate to the folder you want to retrieve the files from.

3. Type this: dir /s > mydir.txt

You won't see any text on the screen, but if you open the mydir.txt file, you will see that every file from that directory and its subdirectories is printed in the document. You can also specify a different location for the txt file, for example d:\mydir.txt, as well as any name you want. Otherwise it will create the text file in the folder you are currently in.

And of course, any of the switches that you want to use with the dir command can be done with the resulting output in the text document you create.

[wrack]

Manage network passwords saved by Windows (Also can't be cleared by Clearing All Passwords from IE).

Below command is case sensitive (at least in my experience)

Start -> Run -> rundll32.exe keymgr.dll, KRShowKeyMgr

Hope this is helpful :)

[Zomp]

My little contribution to this great thread:

How to navigate in Internet even on a pc where access to iexplorer has been removed.

1) Open any windows application (e.g.: notepad)

2) Clic on "?" on the toolbar

3) Choose "help topics"

4) Clic on the control button (the yellow question mark) on the left of title bar

5) Choose "jump to url"

6) Digit the address you want but do not forget the initial "http://"

Et voil?!

P.S. to all users: please do not use abbreviations (as "ur" for "your", I think) that are very annoying to read for foreigner people.

[mhc]

Create a text file with the contents of your directories (and subdirectories):

1. Open a command prompt

2. Navigate to the folder you want to retrieve the files from.

3. Type this: dir /s > mydir.txt

You won't see any text on the screen, but if you open the mydir.txt file, you will see that every file from that directory and its subdirectories is printed in the document. You can also specify a different location for the txt file, for example d:\mydir.txt, as well as any name you want. Otherwise it will create the text file in the folder you are currently in.

And of course, any of the switches that you want to use with the dir command can be done with the resulting output in the text document you create.

An even better command would be: dir /s /b > mydir.txt

[captain cracksmoke]

clean up IE or netscape cookies (type in command prompt):

type ??> ipconfig /flushdns <?Enter

type ??> ipconfig /release <?Enter

type ??> ipconfig /renew <?Enter

type ??> exit <???Enter

Or save these commands in a bat file and run it everytime you need to delete cookies. ;)RKS GRWEAT FOR RAPIDSHARE ;)

cntrl+mouse scroll to make internet page larger and smaller

[PricklyPoo]

clean up IE or netscape cookies (type in command prompt):

type —–> ipconfig /flushdns <—Enter

type —–> ipconfig /release <—Enter

type —–> ipconfig /renew <—Enter

type —–> exit <——–Enter

Doesn't right clicking on your internet connection and clicking repair do the same thing and more?

[BlakByte]

Lock taskbar

1. Go to taskbar

2. Right click taskbar

3. Click "lock taskbar" so its checked.

I have used this tweak since day one of Windows Xp. Really nice

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Um, does that not renew your IP, and have jack **** to do with cookies?

Anyhow my tip:

On your taskbar, right click and select toolbars > desktop.

Drag it as far right as possible.

Click the ">>" and you can access your entire pc!