Jim Boyce - Windows Tips

Microsoft Windows XP / 2000 Professional Tips

Available Tips: 572

Tip Title

A Better Calculator

A quick tour of Service Pack 3

A tour of accessibility features in Windows

A tour of nslookup

Access encrypted files across the LAN

Access ZIP / removable drives in the Recovery Console

Acquire a Specific IP Address

Add / remove the Windows version from the desktop

Add a service with Srvany

Add context menu items

Add date / time automatically to log files with Notepad

Add error information to the network connection status dialog box

Add file and folder information to Windows Explorer

Add quick access to folders and applications in the Send To menu

Add Quick Launch Items

Add recovery agents for EFS

Add Safe Mode options to the boot menu

Add Shutdown to the Logon Dialog

Add the capability to open a console through the context menu

Add toolbars to your taskbar

Adding Options to the Send To Menu

Adding remote management capability-part 1

Adding remote management capability-part 2

Advanced SCSI properties—part 1

Advanced SCSI properties—part 2

Allow or disallow dial-up passwords from being saved

An alternative to the Windows Update site

Archive permissions with SHOWACLS

Assign shortcut key to Show Desktop

Auditing registry keys

Automate a system backup

Automate virus updates

Automatic IP Address Assignment

Automatic Logon

Automating Windows tasks

Avoid reinstalling applications after a clean install

Back up certificates

Backing up an Encrypting File System recovery key

Backup or move Outlook Express to another computer

Basic versus Dynamic Disks

Be a minimalist with your desktop

Bootable NTFS Disk -- Part 1

Bootable NTFS Disk -- Part 2

Build a custom MMC management console

Bypass automatic logon

Bypass startup items at logon

Bypass the Recycle Bin

Can you point me to the Internet, please?

Cancel dial-up networking connections during dialing

CapsLock Status at Startup

Chain hotfixes for installation without a restart

Change Command Console Size and Buffer

Change disconnect timeout for network shares

Change Document Associations

Change Help text font size

Change NumLock status on startup and logon

Change password expiration period

Change process priority to improve performance

Change telnet banner and program execution

Change the command console colors

Change the location and name of My Documents

Change the location of the offline file cache

Change the location of the Startup folder

Change the location of your profile folder

Change the name of My Computer to your computer name

Change the Recycle Bin’s name

Change Windows 2000 registration

Change your console prompt with PROMPT

Changing Boot Options

Changing Environment Variables

Changing file date/time attributes

Changing Icons of Desktop Items and Documents

Changing Provider Order

Check ACPI compatibility

Check connectivity with Tracert

Check your system’s security

Check your TCP/IP configuration with IPCONFIG

CHKDSK and CHKNTFS

Clean up old profiles

Clean up your disks with Disk Cleanup

Clean up your tray or no more pudding!

Clear the Windows page file for security

Clone or troubleshoot systems through PC Cards

Cloning Your Current Configuration

Cloning your hard drive: Part 1

Cloning your hard drive: Part 2

Configure a print queue to retain printed documents

Configure advanced Scheduled Tasks options

Configure application compatibility settings

Configure client-side offline file settings

Configure DNS cache timeout

Configure dual-CPU system without Uptomp.exe

Configure fax service options

Configure policies for offline file synchronization

Configure security options for logon and shutdown

Configure SNMP security settings

Configure TCP/IP graphically

Configure the logon screensaver in Windows 2000

Configure the SNMP service

Configure Windows to allow remote performance monitoring

Configuring a Dial-Up Server

Configuring Active Desktop content

Configuring Print Spooling

Configuring Service Behavior

Configuring Windows 2000 Pro as a Telnet Server

Control access to applications with Appsec.exe

Control automatic updates across a network

Control CD autorun globally

Control CD autorun on a per-drive basis

Control Connected Files feature (prevent unexpected folder deletion)—part 1

Control Connected Files feature (prevent unexpected folder deletion)—part 2

Control cookies to prevent Web sites from storing information on your computer

Control Dynamic DNS settings in Windows 2000

Control multiple platforms with VNC

Control services remotely with Netsvc.exe

Control startup script execution

Control the desktop with local or group policies

Control the Start menu and taskbar with policies

Control unsigned driver installation

Control user ability to manage services

Control window dragging behavior

Controlling Driver and Service Installation Behavi

Copy color schemes between computers

Copy files with the context menu

Copy user profiles

Create a custom system tray with Quick Tray

Create a custom Welcome screen

Create a file copy list with DIR

Create a slipstream copy of Windows 2000 with SP2

Create a spanned volume

Create a sticky filtered Event Viewer

Create a VPN connection

Create and share dialing rules and calling cards

Create custom quota entries for users

Create FAT partitions at Setup

Create Internet shortcuts to simplify resource access

Create Quick Shortcuts to Explorer

Create Setup boot disks for systems without bootable CD

Create striped volumes for performance

Create VPN connections to remote VPN servers

Creating a File List for a Batch File with DIR /B

Custom IP Settings Through User Classes

Customize folder windows

Customize MMC Consoles

Customize or disable Windows Help

Customize printer web pages - part 1

Customize printer web pages - part 2

CYA with a personal firewall

Defrag a drive when not logged on as Administrator

Delete cached user profiles

Delete directories from a console

Delete old user profiles to recover disk space

Delete temporary pagefile to improve performance

Delete user profiles with Delprof.exe

Dial contacts from your Windows Address Book

Dial-up connection generates "There was no answer" error message

Digging into the NET command

Disable Content Advisor

Disable devices without removing them

Disable File and Printer Sharing for TCP/IP

Disable media sense to recover lost connections

Disable Microsoft Messenger

Disable Offline Caching for a Shared Folder

Disable Remote Registry Modification

Disable the “Getting Started” dialog box for new users

Disabling APIPA

Disabling the Messenger service

Discard history of previous documents at shutdown

Displaying Special Logon Messages

Don’t trash the DCHP client service!

Drive Letters Need to be Changed

Dual-boot is obsolete (VMWare)

Dump and view the event logs from a console

Duplicate quotas from one drive to another

Edit Fax Cover Pages

Eliminate unneeded services

Enable compatibility options in Windows 2000 SP2

Enable digital audio CD playback

Enable or disable AutoComplete

Enable services through the registry

Enabling IPP (Internet printing) under Pro

Enforce Password Settings

Ensure Recovery Console access to a Windows 2000 computer

Entering regional settings during Setup

Everyone Versus the Authenticated Users Group

Exclude Roaming Directories

Excluding files and folders from Backup

Expand messages from Outlook Express files

Expand your desktop

Expanding items on the Start menu

Explore and troubleshoot memory usage with Qslice.exe

Filter the event logs to quickly locate events

Find files with Where.exe

Find forgotten files faster

Find info on W2K error messages

Find search terms with Text Spotlight add-on

Find text in files from a console

Fine-tune Internet Explorer’s behavior

Fine-tune printer permissions

Fine-tune the Recycle Bin

Fix a registry on a dead system

Fix hibernate problems

Fix Nslookup problems

Fix WebDAV access problems

Force incompatible programs to run through Apcompat.exe

Force system logoff with the Exit Screensaver

Gather folder data with Visual File Information

Gather information about remote computers with scripts

Gather policy information with GPRESULT.EXE

General tips for using the FTP console command

Generating a System Configuration Report

Generating E-Mail Automatically

Get a directory view with TREE

Get a handle on scripts - part 1

Get a handle on scripts - part 2

Get a wealth of information about your system using SET

Get information about your computer with the System Information console

Get multiple files with an ftp console

Get quick access to documents

Get quick network and host information from a command console

Get ready for Windows XP

Getting past the evaluation copy timebomb

Getting Quick Access to Documents

Getting Your Second CPU Recognized

Give your middle button a reason to live

Handle a missing DC gracefully-part 1

Handle a missing DC gracefully-part 2

Handy rundll32 shortcuts

Help users handle document disk-space cramp

Help users with accessibility features

Help with the Command Console

Hidden Shares

Hide a Share

Hide Control Panel applets

Hide drives in My Computer

Hide Your Last Logon

Host database connections for IIS

Host multiple Web sites on one IP

Identify installed updates

Identify open ports with netstat

Identify services from a command console with Sclist

Identify systems cloned using Sysprep

Improve security with strong passwords

Improve wireless security to keep out the riffraff

Increase logon timeout for slow networks

Increase TCP/IP timeout

Install and uninstall services

Install applications as services

Install FrontPage Server Extensions to support FrontPage publishing

Install Windows 2000 over Linux

Installing a fresh copy of Windows 2000 leaves old installation intact

Installing and Using the Recovery Console

Is Webhancer lurking on your system?

Just what is Svchost.exe?

Keep a dial-up connection alive

Keep ODBC components synchronized and up to date

Keep users out of hot water by hiding Control Panel applets

Keyboard shortcuts for the command console

Keyboard shortcuts have disappeared

Kill boot.ini files that won't die

Kill Ntvdm.exe and Wowexec.exe to retrieve resources

Launch a new window from the console with START

Learn more about the registry

Learn the ins and outs of the registry

Limit Connections to a Share

Limit disk usage for existing users with quotas

Limit IP traffic with IP filtering

Load a driver or program for a specific command console

Locating the installation directory during Setup

Lock floppy drives with Floplock.exe

Lock the computer but keep the desktop visible

Lock your workstation with a keystroke

Locking Down the Registry

Make a batch file snooze with Sleep.exe

Make a Remote Desktop connection from a Windows 2000 computer

Make Internet Explorer less friendly

Make user profile changes “stick”

Manage existing partition sizes

Manage multiple identities

Manage network connections with Netcons.exe

Manage other computers remotely with the Computer Management console

Manage the DNS client cache

Manage users with Cusrmgr.exe

Managing DNS with IPCONFIG

Manual Registry Backup and Restore

Manually remove Outlook Express

Merge your CD play list with another

Mimic CDs with Virtual CD

Modem configuration and diagnostic options

Modify the Places Bar—part 1

Modify the Places Bar—part 2

Modify your local routing table

Modifying a Remote Registry

Monitor is limited to VGA

Monitor shared folder access for security

Monitor system performance locally and remotely (part 1)

Monitor system performance locally and remotely (part 2)

Monitor your system's performance Monitor your system's performance

More fun with the DIR command

More on the MORE command

Move a user profile to a different location

Move over while I attack your Web server

Move the Internet Explorer cache

Move the paging file and spool folder for performance and storage capacity—part 1

Move the paging file and spool folder for performance and storage capacity—part 2

Move the system DLLCache folder to another drive

Move users here, there, and everywhere

Moving Certificates Between Computers

Moving custom colors and patterns between computers

Netstat in a nutshell

Network Without a NIC - Part 1

Network Without a NIC - Part 2

ODBC connections 101

Open a Command Console in a Specific Folder

Open multiple items

Opening Network Folders Quickly

Ouch! Say, “Bye, bye” to data with a profile copy

Password recovery isn’t all that painful

Perform a download of IE 5.5 without installing

Perform a faster search for computers on the network

Perform a query with the Indexing Service

Perform an unattended setup - part 1

Perform an unattended setup - part 2

Perform an unattended setup - part 3

Perform backups from the command console

Perform boot-time configuration with Autoexec.nt

Perform frequent system snapshots

Personalized Menus

Pile it on your tray

Power protection

PowerToys now supports Windows 2000

Prevent applications from running through a registry change

Prevent encryption when copying files to a server

Prevent excessive dialing with ICS

Prevent group policy from applying to administrators

Prevent logon if roaming profile fails

Prevent regedit from opening the previous key

Prevent remote desktop and application sharing in NetMeeting

Prevent specific folders from roaming

Prevent users from changing My Computer

Prevent users from creating user accounts

Prevent users from running Cmd.exe

Prevent users from shutting down the computer

Printing in a UNIX environment

Protect Windows 2000 from DOS attacks

Protect your system with a personal firewall

Protect your system with IP filters—Part 1

Protect your system with IP filters—Part 2

Protect your system with IP filters—Part 3

Publish a folder with IIS

Pull Media Player audio through your firewall

Pull RealPlayer streaming audio through your firewall

Quickly launch Control Panel applets

Quickly locate unwanted media files

QuickView is missing in action

Rearranging the Start Menu

Recognize a serial mouse connected to a KVM switch

Recognize Plug and Play LPT devices

Recover a system that shows a blank desktop after logon

Recover a system that won't logon after drive replacement

Recover data with the RECOVER command

Recover from a fragmented or corrupted SYSTEM hive file

Recover from a relocated PCI display adapter

Recover from a service that is preventing boot

Recover missing desktop icons

Recovering from a Forgotten Administrator Password

Recreate the Show Desktop item

Redesign dialog boxes and other Windows elements with a resource editor

Redetect an external modem

Redirect input and output in a console

Redirect users' folders

Redirect your user profile

Reduce worm susceptibility with secure shares

Reinstall a service pack after a system repair

Remove anonymous access from IIS and folders to improve security

Remove folders or files that have blank or reserved names—part 1

Remove folders or files that have blank or reserved names—part 2

Remove hidden Windows 2000 components

Remove individual typed URLs from Internet Explorer

Remove Service Pack 1 from the Add/Remove Programs list

Remove Windows 2000 manually on a dual-boot system

Removing Hidden Components

Removing incorrectly uninstalled programs

Removing items from the Add/Remove list

Rename special system folders

Renaming the Administrator and Guest Accounts

Reorganize the Start menu

Repair a Windows 2000 installation

Repairing Runas behavior after SP1 installation

Replace files with the REPLACE command

Replace LOGON.SCR with CMD.EXE to recover from a forgotten password

Resolve hosts on a remote LAN more easily

Restore logon locally right after unexpected policy change

Restore quick screen resolution change

Restore your system quickly and easily

Restrict access to command console

Restrict ActiveX controls with group policy

Restrict Printer Access

Restricting Dial-In Users to the Local Computer

Retrieve the current date and time in batch and command files

Right-click control menus for additional options

Run a program or command for all command consoles

Run commands automatically when a console opens

Run Msconfig on Windows 2000

Run Perl / CGI scripts on a Windows 2000 Pro computer

Running Backup from a command prompt

Safely remove NT from a dual-boot Windows 2000 system

Save blue screen information for troubleshooting

Save Time Switching Printer Settings

Scan systems with Microsoft Network Security Hotfix Checker

Schedule automatic execution with AT and WinAT

Schedule tasks with the task scheduler

Scheduling options for Windows

Scope out your system with Msinfo32

SCSI good, IDE bad

Search the registry from a command line

Secure FTP to prevent unauthorized access

Secure VNC for remote control

See Current Client Connections

Send / receive faxes in Windows 2000

Send information to users during logon

Separate print jobs on busy network printers

Set command console history options

Set up multiboot systems with hidden partitions

Set up your own DNS server

Setting network priority

Setting Up Hidden ftp Folders

Setup hangs on startup-part 1

Setup hangs on startup-part 2

Setup renames accounts during upgrade of Windows 9x

Seven Reasons to Use NTFS

Share encrypted data

Share files with IIS

Share ODBC connections between users

Share or move your CD title library

Share permissions versus NTFS permissions

Sharing a dial-up Internet connection

Shutdown and restart computers remotely with Shutdown.exe

Simplify and lock down the user interface

Simplify common MMC actions with Taskpads

Simplify document access in My Documents and other folders

Simplify file selection

Simplify life in the Services console

Simplify navigating command consoles

Simplify web site setup with Personal Web Manager

SMTP yourself!

SMTP yourself! (part 2)

Sort directory output with DIR

Specify directories to be scanned by the Indexing Service

Speed up logon with roaming profiles-part 1

Speed up logon with roaming profiles-part 2

Speed up reboot after system state restore

Start Programs with Switches

Start the Recovery Console from the Setup disks or CD

Step into scripting with Windows Script Host

Strengthen passwords for better security

Switch between classic and Web-enabled folder views

Switch default printers quickly with Defptr.exe

Switching logon dialogs from Novell to Microsoft

Synchronize your system's time--part 1

Synchronize your system's time--part 2

Synchronize your system's time--part 3

System hangs during login

Take control of Explorer

Taking your notebook home

Test your connection speed

The Duplicate Name Error

The new and improved Phone Dialer

They actually spent time fixing that?

Time commands and processes with Timethis.exe

Time-stamp events in batch files with Now.exe

Toss out that JetDirect software

Transplant event logs to help them grow

Troubleshoot DNS with ipconfig

Turn Off Sharing

Turn on autocomplete for the command console

Tweak a few desktop settings

Tweaki…for Power Users

Understand the lowly ping command

Understand the System Account

Unhide accessories for selection during installation

Unhiding Protected System Files

Update that ERD and your registry backup

Upgrading from Windows 2000 evaluation software

Use a custom 404 error page to redirect

Use a parallel Windows installation to recover a system

Use alternating backups for document protection

Use and clear individual AutoComplete form fields in Internet Explorer

Use ASSOC to associate file types

Use CACLS to modify ACLs

Use Ctrl for opening folders

Use custom HTTP error pages

Use Disk Cleanup to increase disk space

Use DISKPART to manage partitions

Use Dxdiag to check DirectX components

Use Dynamic DNS

Use Dynamic DNS to update client host records

Use Encryption for NTFS Volumes

Use environment variables in logon scripts

Use Favorites in the Registry Editor

Use Fdisk to clear a disk signature after cloning

Use FIXBOOT and FIXMBR to fix drive problems

Use ftp from a console

Use groups to assign permissions and rights

Use hardware profiles for multiple system configurations

Use hosts and lmhosts for name resolution

Use Internet Printing Across a Firewall

Use IP forwarding on Windows 2000 Professional

Use L2TP for VPN connections

Use L2TP for VPN connections Part 2

Use leading or trailing spaces in a password

Use more of CMD's capabilities

Use multiple Clipboard items outside of Office

Use NSLOOKUP to check DNS operation

Use NTFS Compression

Use offline folders for file synchronization - Part 1

Use offline folders for file synchronization - part 2

Use one NIC for two networks on a notebook

Use pathping to troubleshoot TCP/IP

Use Portqry.exe to query a system's ports

Use Printer Pooling

Use Rdisk under Windows 2000

Use Remote.exe for remote console commands

Use RUNAS to run programs in a different user context

Use sfc.exe to restore protected system files

Use shortcuts to simplify document browsing

Use Subinacl to take ownership and delete folders with blank or reserved names

Use switches to control Windows Explorer

Use the Active Desktop

Use the infrared file transfer program

Use the Readiness Analyzer before an upgrade

Use the W2K administration tools under Professional

Use this third-party add-on to effectively manage the file system

Use TITLE to set the console title

Use two or more monitors

Use unattended backups for simplicity

Use UNC path in console prompt

Use UNC paths from a command prompt with PUSHD and POPD

Use Web Sharing properties to create virtual directories

Use Windows 2000 Troubleshooters

User profiles are not saved on logoff

Using active and passive FTP in Internet Explorer for file transfers

Using Callback to Reduce Dial-up Costs

Using Certificate-Based Authentication for Dial-Up

Using Mounted Volumes

Using Multilink Connections part 2

Using Multilink Connections to Improve Dial-Up Per

Using registry.pol to apply local restrictions #1

Using registry.pol to apply local restrictions #2

Using the Last Known Good Configuration

View additional information for processes in Task Manager

View and export event logs with Elogdmp.exe

View and manage the DNS resolver cache with Ipconfig

View and set file attributes from a console

View encrypted file system information

View IRQ and other resource allocation

View network connection status

View remote resources with the NET command

View routing tables with the route command

View service startup at boot

View status with console-based file transfers

Viewing / Disabling Services from the Recovery Con

Viewing legacy drivers

Whack NetBIOS with DHCP options

Where’s that taskbar?

Why no Administrative Tools on the Start menu?

Why you should install SP1

Windows 2000 adds extensions to profile folders

Windows certificate trust goes too far

Windows loses the date and time on reboot

Working with Removable NTFS Media

Working with Safe Mode

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