http://malektips.com/windows_xp_help_and_tips.html Windows XP help and tips to increase your productivity and help solve computer problems. Topics include Tweak UI, account management, remote desktop connections, using printers, removing spyware on Windows XP systems, DOS and Batch Files, and more. en-us Thu, 4 Dec 2008 19:46:42 GMT Thu, 4 Dec 2008 19:46:42 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Custom webmaster@envprogramming.com (Andrew Malek) webmaster@envprogramming.com (Andrew Malek) http://malektips.com/graphics/logo_88x30.gif http://malektips.com/windows_xp_help_and_tips.html 88 30 http://malektips.com/xp-keyboard-character-repeat-delay-rate.html If typed characters tend to repeat themselves too quickly, change Windows XP's repeat settings.

When you press and hold a key down, after a brief or long delay, the character will begin to repeat. This is useful when scrolling through documents with the cursor keys as you do not need to keep hitting a cursor key every time you want to move in the document.

Keyboard repeating, however, is not limited to cursor keys, and if you are typing a document and accidentally hold a key down too long, it will rrreeeeeepeat. The amount of time you must hold down a key, as well as the speed of the keyboard repeating, can be modified in Windows XP so that characters should not repeat so frequently....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 4 Dec 2008 19:46:41 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-keyboard-character-repeat-delay-rate.html http://malektips.com/xp-dos-defragment-file-directory-contig.html Only defragment a particular file or directory that you frequently access.

If you frequently modify a particular file or directory on your Windows XP system, that file or directory may become fragmented more quickly than other files / directories on your hard drive. If so, while you can defragment the entire drive via a batch file, it may prove useful and quicker to just target the particular file / directory for defragmentation if it is changed often.

Defragmenting a single file or directory can be accomplished via the contig command, available from the Sysinternals site, part of Microsoft Technet....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 4 Dec 2008 16:48:44 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-dos-defragment-file-directory-contig.html http://malektips.com/xp-remove-cursor-blink.html Annoyed by the blinking cursor in Notepad, Microsoft Word, and other Windows XP applications?

By default, in Notepad, Microsoft Word, and other Windows XP software that supports text entry, the cursor position is represented by a blinking cursor.

Many people find that the blinking animation makes the cursor easier to see, especially on a cluttered desktop. However, if you find this animation annoying, it can be stopped....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 1 Dec 2008 19:34:48 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-remove-cursor-blink.html http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-ignore-read-receipt.html Prevent Outlook Express from ever prompting you to return a read receipt.

Some people request return receipts for particular e-mail messages they send to others using Outlook, Windows Mail, or other e-mail programs that support such receipts. Likewise, if you use Windows XP's Outlook Express, it may prompt you when these receipts are requested, allowing you to send a read receipt or ignore the request.

For privacy reasons, you may wish to ignore all read receipt requests without even being prompted. To make this change:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 1 Dec 2008 16:18:48 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-ignore-read-receipt.html http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-default-program.html Configure Outlook Express to be the default program used for managing e-mail and newsgroups.

If you are experimenting with multiple e-mail programs, you may have accidentally made one of them the default software used for handling e-mail and newsgroups. If so, you may wish to re-configure Outlook Express in Windows XP to be the default software for handling such actions.

1. Click the "Tools" menu, selecting "Options"....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:05:23 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-default-program.html http://malektips.com/xpwex0015.html Don't waste CPU cycles or cause your hard drive to spin every time you hover your mouse pointer over a folder.

Normally, when you hover your mouse pointer over a folder in Explorer, Windows XP will automatically calculate the size of all files in the folder and its subfolders, displaying the results as a folder tip popup. Note that if the folder contains too many items, XP will eventually give up and only state the folder is larger than a certain size.

Many people find this functionality useful. However, others do not need this information, or they don't want Windows XP wasting CPU cycles and spinning up the hard drive to calculate folder sizes. Also, if you have a laptop and commonly navigate files using Explorer, calculating the size of every folder you hover your mouse pointer on can drain some power from the battery as the hard drive must be accessed more frequently. Thus, to disable this feature:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:27:54 GMT http://malektips.com/xpwex0015.html http://malektips.com/xp-dos-batch-file-minimized-full-screen.html Force a program executed by a batch file to minimize to the Windows Taskbar or appear full-screen.

In some instances, when creating a batch file in Windows XP, you may wish to execute a program and force it to display as a full-screen window. Perhaps the application is displaying information that you or the batch file's intended user needs to see, and by opening the window normally the information may not be visible due to a smaller window size.

Conversely, a batch file may need to run an application that its user normally should not need to see. Perhaps an application needs to perform networking or file maintenance operations, and seeing its output may be confusing. If so, the batch file can force an application to start minimized to the Windows XP Taskbar....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:50:39 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-dos-batch-file-minimized-full-screen.html http://malektips.com/togglekeys-num-scroll-caps-lock.html Have Windows notify you if you accidentally or intentionally press the Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock key.

If you are touch typing a large document and keeping your eyes focused on the document and not the keyboard nor computer screen, it is possible while reaching for the A key that you might accidentally press the Caps Lock key by mistake. aLTHOUGH mICROSOFT wORD CAN HELP PROTECT YOU FROM THIS PROBLEM, OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS nOTEPAD DO NOT HAVE SUCH INTELLIGENCE BUILT-IN, CAUSING YOUR TYPING TO LOOK LIKE THIS.

Windows has a feature called ToggleKeys that can play a quick audio alert whenever you accidentally, or intentionally, press one of the "Lock" keys - Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock. To enable this feature:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:23:18 GMT http://malektips.com/togglekeys-num-scroll-caps-lock.html http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-read-receipt.html Request a read receipt for an important message sent in Outlook Express.

When sending an important message in Outlook Express in Windows XP, you can request a read receipt for said message. This way you can help ensure your e-mail reached its destination and was read, even if it has not been responded to yet.

Note that while read receipts may be a good idea for certain messages, receiving this notification is not guaranteed. Your recipient may use non-Microsoft software that does not support read receipts. Also, e-mail users with Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Mail can configure their software to never send receipts or ignore particular requests....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:41:03 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-read-receipt.html http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-sound-new-messages.html Prevent Outlook Express from audibly notifying you when new messages arrive.

Outlook Express in Windows XP plays a sound whenever new e-mail arrives. This is useful if you are multitasking; instead of keeping track of the Outlook Express window, you can work on other software and know by a sound whenever you need to check your Inbox.

There are some circumstances, however, where you do not want to hear when new messages arrive. For example, you may be listening to music or playing a game and may find the sound distracting. Thus, it can be disabled:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:04:10 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-sound-new-messages.html http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-do-not-send-immediately.html Prevent Outlook Express from automatically trying to send messages as soon as you compose them.

Depending on your configuration, when you compose e-mail in Outlook Express in Windows XP, the software will automatically attempt to connect to the Internet to send your e-mail.

If you have an always-on connection to the Internet, this immediacy may be useful so you don't accidentally forget to send the e-mail later. However, if you are using a dial-up connection or one where you must pay for bandwidth, you might rather have Outlook Express queue your outgoing e-mail into the "Outbox" and only send it when you click the "Send / Recv" button or when Outlook Express automatically performs a periodic send / receive action....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:49:54 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-do-not-send-immediately.html http://malektips.com/media-center-2005-remove-animation-transition.html Remove animations when navigating between screens in Windows Media Center 2005.

By default, when navigating between screens in Windows Media Center 2005, screens pop in and out through transition animations. While many people appreciate this "eye candy", others may find this needless and would rather have the increased navigation speed with these animations removed.

1. Select "Settings"....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:15:24 GMT http://malektips.com/media-center-2005-remove-animation-transition.html http://malektips.com/windows_xp_0007.html Keep the Windows XP Blue Screen of Death visible for diagnostic purposes.

If Windows XP detects a critical error, a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) is displayed with some diagnostic information about the error. Then, Windows XP will attempt to send information to a log file and automatically reboot the computer.

If you would rather Windows XP not try to automatically restart so you can view the BSOD and jot down information for possible later debugging, perform the following tweak. Note that you should be logged in as an administrator first. Also, it is not recommended to perform this tweak on server machines as in many cases these should automatically restart, unless you are diagnosing a serious error....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:55:42 GMT http://malektips.com/windows_xp_0007.html http://malektips.com/xpwex0011.html Make it easier to know what folder you are opening in Explorer. Add full paths to the title bars of Windows XP folders.

When you open a subfolder from Explorer in Windows XP, such as C:\Downloads\Graphics or C:\Multimedia Files\Graphics, only the name of the subfolder, i.e. "Graphics", appears in the folder's title bar. If you have multiple folders on your computer with the same name, it may prove confusing to determine the full path of a particular opened folder. For example, if the Taskbar contains two buttons representing a folder "Graphics", which button relates to which folder?

You can configure Explorer to show the full path in the folder's title bar. This way you can quickly glance at the window, or the folder's button on the Windows Taskbar, to see exactly which path is represented by a particular Explorer window....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:41:41 GMT http://malektips.com/xpwex0011.html http://malektips.com/xp_dos_view_hidden_system_files.html View files Windows may be trying to hide via the DOS prompt.

By default, Windows hides files that it deems are system critical. In theory, hiding files keeps them from accidently being modified or deleted through Explorer.

However, there may be times when you need to display lists of such files, such as for system troubleshooting purposes. To do so, from the DOS prompt, type in one of the following commands:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:46:20 GMT http://malektips.com/xp_dos_view_hidden_system_files.html http://malektips.com/xpwex0033.html Change Explorer's behavior in Windows XP when opening subfolders.

Depending on your configuration, when you open a subfolder inside a Windows XP Explorer folder window, one of two things may happen. Either the view of the current folder's contents is replaced with the view of the subfolder's contents, or a new window appears with the view of the subfolder's contents.

Either way, you can still open subfolders in new windows on a subfolder-by-subfolder basis. Just hold the Ctrl key down while opening the subfolder. However, if you wish to change the default subfolder opening behavior, do the following:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Fri, 7 Nov 2008 15:33:23 GMT http://malektips.com/xpwex0033.html http://malektips.com/xp-add-remove-documents-computer-internet.html Add or remove these Windows XP Desktop icons - My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, and Internet Explorer.

Do you try to keep a clean Desktop on your Windows XP machine? Tired of icons such as My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, and Internet Explorer taking up space and hiding your wallpaper?

Or, do you frequently need access to these features and find that they are not immediately available on your Desktop? Tired of searching through the "Start" menu?...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 3 Nov 2008 18:11:56 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-add-remove-documents-computer-internet.html http://malektips.com/media-center-2005-slideshow-transition-time.html Change how long Media Center Edition 2005 waits between slideshow images.

When playing slideshows in Windows Media Center 2005, you may find that slideshows take too little or too much time between images. This interval time is configurable:

1. Select "Settings"....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:32:29 GMT http://malektips.com/media-center-2005-slideshow-transition-time.html http://malektips.com/media-center-2005-keyboard-shortcuts.html Want to navigate Windows Media Center with your keyboard?

While many people navigate Windows Media Center with the mouse or (optional) remote control, some would rather use their computer keyboard.

Microsoft has a list of keyboard shortcuts valid for Windows Media Center 2005. Some of the more important ones:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:07:55 GMT http://malektips.com/media-center-2005-keyboard-shortcuts.html http://malektips.com/media-center-2005-alarm-clock.html Add an Alarm Clock and Sleep Timer to Windows Media Center.

Do you have an appointment in an hour and want to kill some time before then playing multimedia files in Windows Media Center? Don't be late to your engagement - add an Alarm Clock so Media Center can alert you when it's time to stop watching repeats of "Lost" or "The Office" and head out.

To install this free tool:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:45:47 GMT http://malektips.com/media-center-2005-alarm-clock.html