Windows Tips and Tricks

Change "Registered user" and "Company name" in Windows XP/Vista

2009-04-20T02:16:00.006+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Change "Registered user" and "Company name" in Windows XP/Vista

To change "Registered user" and "Company name" under "My Computer" Properties in both Windows XP and Windows Vista proceed as follows :

-Start -> Run
-Type "regedit" and hit Enter
-Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version
-Double click on either RegisteredOwner or RegisteredOrganization, and enter your desired values in the "Value data" field to change the Register user or Company name.
-Right-click on "My Computer" and select "Properties" to see the change.

Hidden Programs in Windows

2009-04-20T01:13:00.018+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Hidden Programs in Windows

You can access all these programs in Windows by going through Start -> Run (or "Windows Key" + R) :

ac3filter.cpl (Opens AC3 Filter (if installed))
access.cpl (Accessibility Controls)
accwiz (Accessibility Wizard)
acrobat (Adobe Acrobat (if installed))
acrodist (Adobe Distiller (if installed))
admintools (Administrative Tools control)
appwiz.cpl (Add/Remove Programs)
calc (Calculator)
certmgr.msc (Certificate Manager)
charmap (Character Map)
chkdsk (Check Disk Utility)
ciadv.msc (Indexing Service)
cleanmgr (Disk Cleanup Utility)
cliconfg (SQL Client Configuration)
clipbrd (Clipboard Viewer)
cmd (Command Prompt)
compmgmt.msc (Computer Management)
conf (Netmeeting)
control (Control Panel)
control color (Display Properties (Appearance Tab Preselected))
control desktop (Display Properties)
control folders (Folders Properties)
control fonts (Fonts)
control keyboard (Keyboard Properties)
control mouse (Mouse Properties)
control netconnections (Network Connections)
control printers (Printers and Faxes)
control schedtasks (Scheduled Tasks)
dcomcnfg (Component Services)
ddeshare (DDE Shares)
desk.cpl (Display Properties)
devmgmt.msc (Device Manager)
dfrg.msc (Disk Defragment)
dialer (Phone Dialer)
directx.cpl (Direct X Control Panel (if installed))
diskmgmt.msc (Disk Management)
diskpart (Disk Partition Manager)
drwtsn32 (Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility)
dxdiag (Direct X Troubleshooter)
eudcedit (Private Character Editor)
eventvwr.msc (Event Viewer)
excel (Microsoft Excel (if installed))
explorer (Windows Explorer)
findfast.cpl (Findfast)
firefox (Firefox (if installed))
firewall.cpl (Windows Firewall)
fonts (Fonts Folder)
freecell (Free Cell Card Game)
frontpg (Microsoft Frontpage (if installed))
fsmgmt.msc (Shared Folders)
fsquirt (Bluetooth Transfer Wizard)
gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor (XP Prof))
hdwwiz.cpl (Add Hardware Wizard)
helpctr (Help and Support)
hypertrm (HyperTerminal)
icwconn1 (Internet Connection Wizard)
iexplore (Internet Explorer)
iexpress (Iexpress Wizard)
imageready (Adobe ImageReady (if installed))
inetcpl.cpl (Internet Properties)
inetwiz (Internet Setup Wizard)
intl.cpl (Regional Settings)
ipconfi /all (IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration))
ipconfig /displaydns (IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents))
ipconfig /flushdns (IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents))
ipconfig /registerdns (IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS))
ipconfig /release (IP Configuration (Release All Connections))
ipconfig /renew (IP Configuration (Renew All Connections))
ipconfig /setclassid (IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID))
ipconfig /showclassid (IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID))
javaws (Java Control Panel (if installed))
joy.cpl (Game Controllers)
jpicpl32.cpl (Java Control Panel (if installed))
logoff (Logs You Out Of Windows)
lusrmgr.msc (Local Users and Groups)
magnify (Windows Magnifier)
main.cpl (Mouse Properties)
migwiz (Files and Settings Transfer Tool)
mmsys.cpl (Sounds and Audio)
mobsync (Microsoft Syncronization Tool)
moviemk (Microsoft Movie Maker)
mrt (Malicious Software Removal Tool)
msaccess (Microsoft Access (if installed))
msconfig (System Configuration Utility)
mshearts (Hearts Card Game)
msimn (Outlook Express)
msinfo32 (System Information)
msmsgs (Windows Messenger)
mspaint (Microsoft Paint)
mstsc (Remote Desktop)
ncpa.cpl (Network Connections)
nero (Nero (if installed))
netsetup.cpl (Network Setup Wizard)
notepad (Notepad)
ntbackup (Windows Backup Utility (if installed))
ntmsmgr.msc (Removable Storage)
ntmsoprq.msc (Removable Storage Operator Requests)
nusrmgr.cpl (User Account Management)
nvtuicpl.cpl (Nview Desktop Manager (if installed))
odbccp32.cpl (ODBC Data Source Administrator)
osk (On Screen Keyboard)
packager (Object Packager)
password.cpl (Password Properties)
pbrush (Paint)
perfmon (Performance Monitor)
perfmon.msc (Performance Monitor)
photoshop (Adobe Photoshop (if installed))
pinball (Pinball Game)
powercfg.cpl (Power Configuration)
powerpnt (Microsoft Powerpoint (if installed))
printers (Printers Folder)
quicktime.cpl (Quicktime (if installed))
quicktimeplayer (Quicktime Player (if installed))
rasphone (Remote Access Phonebook)
realplay (Real Player (if installed))
regedit (Registry Editor)
regedit32 (Registry Editor)
rsop.msc (Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof))
secpol.msc (Local Security Settings)
services.msc (Services)
sfc /cachesize=x (System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x))
sfc /purgecache (System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache))
sfc /revert (System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting))
sfc /scanboot (System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot))
sfc /scannow (System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately))
sfc /scanonce (System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot))
shutdown (Shuts Down Windows)
sigverif (File Signature Verification Tool)
spider (Spider Solitare Card Game)
sticpl.cpl (Scanners and Cameras)
sysdm.cpl (System Properties)
sysedit (System Configuration Editor)
syskey (Windows System Security Tool)
taskmgr (Task Manager)
tcptest (TCP Tester)
telephon.cpl (Phone and Modem Options)
telnet (Telnet Client)
timedate.cpl (Date and Time Properties)
tourstart (Windows XP Tour Wizard)
tweakui (Tweak UI (if installed))
utilman (Utility Manager)
verifier (Driver Verifier Utility)
wab (Windows Address Book)
wabmig (Windows Address Book Import Utility)
wiaacmgr (Windows Picture Import Wizard (need camera connected))
winchat (Microsoft Chat)
winmine (Minesweeper Game)
winver (Windows Version (to show which version of windows))
winword (Microsoft Word (if installed))
wmimgmt.msc (Windows Management Infrastructure)
wmplayer (Windows Media Player)
write (Wordpad)
wscui.cpl (Security Center)
wuaucpl.cpl (Automatic Updates)
wupdmgr (Windows Update Launches)

Disable The Taskbar's Yellow Bubbles

2008-09-17T19:16:00.013+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Disable The Taskbar's Yellow Bubbles

Tooltips such as "Your local area connection is now connected" and many others can be disabled by following these steps :

-Start -> Run
-Type "regedit" and hit Enter
-Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to disable tooltips for all users, or HKEY_CURRENT_USER if you want to disable them only for yourself.
-Go to Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Explorer -> Advanced
-Right-click on an empty space in the lower part of the current window, then select New and DWORD value.
-Type in : EnableBalloonTips (respect the upper and lower case) and press Enter to confirm.
-Reboot your PC.

Disable The Error Reporting Function

2008-09-14T04:17:00.008+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Disable The Error Reporting Function

Press Windows + Pause simultaneoulsy, to access System Properties (or right click on My Computer and choose Properties).
Under Advanced, click Send Error Report, in the new window check Disable error reporting and uncheck But notify me when critical errors occur, confirm the changes with OK.

Reinstall Windows XP Without Repeating Online Activation

2008-09-14T03:44:00.009+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Reinstall Windows XP Without Repeating Online Activation

All you have to do is to keep a copy of the wpa.dbl file located under C:\Windows\System32\ into an external disk and after reinstalling Windows go to the same directory, rename wpa.dbl to wpa.old and copy the saved file from the disk.

Rename Multiple Files

2008-09-14T03:15:00.009+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Rename Multiple Files

This feature is added since Windows XP, just select all the files you want to rename, and hit the F2 button, type in the new name (eg : myfile) then hit Enter.
Now all the files that you have selected should be renamed (eg : myfile (1), myfile (2), myfile (3), etc.)

Disable highlighting newly installed programs

2008-09-14T02:55:00.012+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Disable highlighting newly installed programs

When you install a new program in Windows XP, it appears highlighted in the start menu, and some people consider it annoying.
To disable it, do a right click on the Start Button, and select Properties.
Under the Start menu tab, click Customize, then under the Advanced tab, uncheck Highlight newly installed programs, and confirm with OK.
Finally got rid of highlighting!

Set time limit to a user

2008-09-14T01:37:00.012+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Set time limit to a user

Let's say your son is called Adam and he got his own logon in the PC with his name : Adam.
In his school days (eg : from Monday to Friday), you may want Adam to access computer only from 8am to 6pm.
You can do this by going to Start -> Run, and entering one of the followings :
net user Adam /time:M-F,8am-6pm
net user Adam /time:M-F,08:00-18:00
Way for Adam to concentrate in his papers too!

Add programs/folders to SendTo menu

2008-09-14T01:12:00.010+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Add programs/folders to SendTo menu

To add programs/folders to the right click menu SendTo, navigate this directory C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\SendTo and drag the items that you want to add there using right click, while dropping choose Create Shortcuts Here, it's done! now you can test your right click on files/folders.

Shutdown Windows Faster

2008-09-14T00:30:00.007+02:00

Windows Tips and Tricks : Shutdown Windows Faster

This trick is about gaining the few seconds wasted in the Exit Sound.
Just go to Start -> Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio Devices and select the tab Sounds.
Scroll the list down and select Exit Windows.
Under Sounds select None and confirm with OK.
Now your Windows should shutdown faster!