How to make your Windows XP super fast

This tutorial is meant for increasing the performance of Windows XP, either it can be a fresh installation or an older windows.

1.) Following is a registry containing a few registry modifications, which are completely safe and can increase the performance of Windows. Just download the attached ZIP file, extract it and then run the file:
Tweak Windows XP
Restore Default Settings (Use this file if you want to restore default Windows settings)
2.) Right-click on Desktop and select Properties, Now in the new window goto Appearance tab and click on Effects button. Now in the new opened window uncheck the following options:
a.) Use the following transition effect for menus & tooltips.
b.) Show shadows under menus.
c.) Show window contents while dragging. (you may remain this option checked as I hv in my screenshot. It depends upon ur choice.)
d.) Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts. You may select “Standard” for this. I hv selected “Clear Type” coz I hv a TFT, it doesnt work properly for CRT monitors.

3.) Right-click on My Computer icon on Desktop and select Properties (or press key + key), now goto Advanced tab in new window and click on Settings button in Performance section:
Now disable all unnecessary options in Visual Effects tab, you can remain following options enabled according to your requirements:
a.) Show window contents while dragging.
b.) Smooth edges of screen fonts.
c.) Use common tasks in folders (If u use the left side pane in My computer, I don’t use it.)
d.) Use drop shadows on icon labels on the desktop. (to make the desktop icons label transparent.)
e.) Use visual styles on windows and buttons. (If u use XP themes.)

4.) Open Tools -> Folder Options and click on View tab:

Now uncheck following options:
a.) Automatically search for network folders & printers.
b.) Display file size information in folder tips.
c.) Display simple folder view in Explorer’s Folders list.
d.) Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
e.) Show pop-up description for folder and desktop icons.
f.) Use simple file sharing.
Other options don’t affect the system performance. You can enable/disable them according to your requirements.
5.) Right-click on My Computer icon on Desktop and select Manage (You can also open it by typing services.msc in RUN and press Enter). Now goto Services & Applications -> Services. Here you can set a few unnecessary services to Manual, which will not start with windows and will decrease the boot time and will increase system performance. Please follow the following tutorial to know about which services can be safely set to MANUAL:
Windows XP Services that can be Safely set to MANUAL
6.) Type msconfig in RUN and press Enter. Now goto Startup tab and deselect the unnecessary entries, which you don’t want to start automatically with Windows, e.g. you can disable VGA driver utility, Sound Card utility, etc to speed up the startup time and to increase system performance.
7.) Open Sound & Audio Devices in Control Panel (or type mmsys.cpl in RUN), goto Sounds tab and select No Sounds in Sound Scheme section. Or you can remain some of your favorite sounds but set Exit Windows, Start Windows, Windows Logoff, Windows Logon to (None).
8.) For more options/tips-n-tricks, you can use TweakUI, Tuneup Utilities 2006 and gpedit.msc (Windows XP Professional built-in tool).

Original Post: ASKVG

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How to create One-Click Hibernation icon on your desktop?

Today tip will help you to start the quicker hibernation process with a single click on desktop icon. This is the easiest way to start the hibernation process in windows XP. A simple click on hibernation icon, close the all running applications and will start hibernation process properly. This tip is very useful to save energy and time as well. If any case this desktop shortcut does not work, then you should need to configure your computer to enable hibernation. Go on the Start button and select “Settings”. Click on “Control Panel” then double-click on the “Power Options” icon. Click on the “Hibernate” tab and make sure the “Enable Hibernate” checkbox is checked.

Follow the given steps to create the shutdown icon:

To create a new shortcut, right click on any empty area of your desktop and go to New then Shortcut.

Now a small windows dialog box will appear with the title “Create Windows”. In the “Create Shortcut” window, type the following command.

rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll, SetSuspendState

Click Next button to type the name of this shortcut and press Finish to close it. Now click on Hibernate icon to verify the process.

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How to Enable the Hidden Administrator Account in Windows 7

Similar to Windows Vista, Windows 7 also has a built-in administrator account which is created when it is installed and it is disabled by default. This account can be enabled if you need to work as administrator without having UAC. It is advisable not to enable the administrator account unless you are fixing some issue and need admin account. You can enable the administrator account by a simple command.
1. Open Command prompt by running as administrator. To do this, right click on the command prompt and select “Run as Administrator”.

2. In the command prompt type the command- net user administrator /active:yes. If you want to set a password for administrator account type Net user administrator password, where password is the password you want to set for this account.

Once the command is executed successfully, log off and log in back to see the administrator account in place. If you need to disable in back, type the command- net user administrator /active:no and the administrator account will be disabled.
Alternatively you can also enable or disable the administrator account from the Local Policy. Click on the start menu and type secpol.msc in the search bar and click enter. This opens the Local Security Policy. Navigate to Local Policies-> Security Options and here you can see an entry Accounts: Administrator account. Double click the entry to enable or disable.

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How to practice your vocabulary online with VerbaLearn

Being a gentleman of Southern persuasion (only a few miles south of the Mason-Dixon line, but why bother with details?), I’ve picked up some bad linguistic habits. I’m not trying to say that everyone in the South speaks poorly, but more than the occasional verbal faux pas can be heard in and around my town.
For those of us who do not know excrement from a brand of shoe polish, especially students studying for the ACT, SAT, or GRE, VerbaLearn makes for an invaluable tool to practice your vocabulary.

Before you sign up, you may indicate which test you are studying for, if any, and then challenge yourself with a quick quiz on the meanings of certain words. VerbaLearn automatically starts building up your first word list based on incorrect answers or answers which you indicate were just guesses. Once you get about ten words in, you’re ready to sign up (it’s free) and continue your first course. The initial course is made up of 50 words however you will be dealing with 10-20 words at a time, depending on an account option you choose.

Once you have built a list, you can take vocabulary quiz with fill-in-the-blank questions as well as definitions. Many of these questions will be repeated until the system is sure that you have a particular word down correctly. Once you have mastered some words, you will be encouraged to build another study list. Whether or not you get a quiz question correct, you may review the correct answer anytime.

If you prefer to learn by listening, you may download a generated MP3 file with the study list on which you need to work. This can be a direct download or, for folks on the go, via a podcast feed.

As I’m sure you can see from the screenshot below, I still have plenty of words to work on. The basic VerbaLearn service is free for all. If I was a student, my parents or another sponsor could add money to my VerbaLearn2Earn account, giving me a “cash card” which could be loaded with a small amount for each word I successfully learn.

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How to Download WinX DVD Ripper Platinum Full Version for Free

What is WinX DVD Ripper Platium?
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum is a professional DVD ripper which could rip different DVDs to popular devices such as Sony PSP, Apple iPhone, iPod, iTouch, Apple TV, PDA, Zune, Mobile phone, rip the content of DVDs to all popular video formats as AVI, FLV, WMV, MPEG, MP4, MOV, RMVB, 3GP, etc.
Integrated all DVD ripping functions together, WinX DVD Ripper Platinum could easily rip and convert all DVDs into all video formats which no matter use for personal computer, or popular portable or mobile devices.
With WinX DVD Ripper Platinum you can easily rip your favorite DVDs.

Some key features of “WinX DVD Ripper Platinum”:
· Clip video: WinX DVD Ripper Platinum can easily clip DVD movie by setting start time and end time to get your favorite clips from your DVD movie
· Add subtitles: You are allowed to add and remove subtitles and adjust language for output video file as you need
· Optimize video quality: Enable you to optimize video/audio quality by setting aspect ratio, video resolution, video frame rate, video size etc
· Rip DVD to popular video formats as AVI, FLV, WMV, MPEG, MP4, etc
· Rip DVD to popular portable devices including iPhone, iPod, PSP, PDA, Zune, Mobile phone, etc
· Support automatically detecting and connecting converted videos to portable devices
· Rip DVD audio into MP3 music file
· Support grabbing screenshot from DVD video
· All video/audio parameters adjustable for users optimizing video quality
· Supper fast ripping speed, up to 300%-500% real time
· Best video/audio quality
The full version costs $ 24.95. With the trial Version, you have only 5 minutes conversion.
How to get the full version for free?
The original price of WinX DVD Ripper Platinum is $24.95. Now it is totally free available from Sep. 15 to Sep. 30 (give away for half month). No registration code is required. Just download it and backup your DVDs right away. It’s very easy. Just visit this promotional page and start downloading Full version of WinX DVD Ripper Platinum by clicking“Free Download” button.

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How to Protect Your Text File with LockNote 1.03

LockNote is a freeware, it’s help you create a text file with password. This tool is small, just 312KB, don’t need to install and simple interface, just a few steps through you could have a text file with important content is encrypted secure.

File text LockNote created using algorithms AES 265-bit can be completely assured of the data protection program. Program works with text files. LockNote compatible with all Windows. You can download it from here.

Using the program is extremely simple:

- After loading the program on your computer, simply double-click to activate the LockNote.exe to access the work of the program.
- With a simple interface such as a window of Windows Notepad, you simply enter the text to be encoded into a blank frame (or drag-drop the text file into the working of the program).
- Once you have enough text content on your File> Save As …, then the name, select the folder to save the text file and click Save. In the dialog box appears LockNote Steganos you enter your password twice to the same frame Password and Repat Password then click the OK button to apply.

- Text file after it has been encrypted by LockNote, it will have the same symbol icon of the program and convert to file type *. exe. And when you need to view the content of text you just need to double-click the file and then enter a password to open the file.

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How to remove virus logoff?

Virus logoff: Who are you?
This is a virus that makes your system log off when you loging in. You can’t log in to your system and all of your work must be stop.
How to remove it?
When it attack your system, it will create a file userinit.exe in C:\Windows\system32\ and it’s auto run when windows started.
Step 1:
Insert boot CD (Hiren Boot, Windows XP, Ubuntu or some things like that) and boot from CD.
Step 2:
In the DOS mode, type:

cd c:\windows\system32\
cp userinit.exe virus.exe

In the Ubuntu: you have 2 choice:
1. In the command line, type: mv \media\{name of your windows partition}\system32\userinit.exe \media\{name of your windows partition}\system32\virus.exe
2. In the Gnome or KDE mode, use file manager and rename/move file userinit.exe to another folder.
After that, reboot the system and remove file virus.exe
Step 3:
Log in to your system and use anti-virus program to scan your system.

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How to use virtual memory in Windows XP

Sometimes, your computer processes too many programs at once, they will use system resources (specifically RAM) and will slow down your computer. With weak systems, it will cause hanging-up, and will require restarting, then all your unsaved files will be lost. However, you can use this method to get rid of that.
Fortunately, Windows XP is built not only for the hyperspeed computers, so it has a tool which help the weak ones deal with the lack of system resources. It is called virtual memory. Using this, Windows can move data in or out to quicken the work, prevent the RAM from being overloaded, and make the work complete.
To customize and use Windows virtual memory, follow these steps:
- First, right-click on My Computer icon, choose Properties.
- Then, click the Advanced tab, below the Performance section, click Settings.

- On the next window, choose the Advanced tab and click Change below the Virtual memory section.

- Next, below the Driver (partitions’ names), you have many options to choose the partitions, but the best is to choose some other than the system partition (the Windows-installed partition) to turn on the virtual memory.
- Here, 2 parameters Initial Size and Maximum Size were pre-customized, you can change these parameters depend on the hard disk’s free space. This space will be used by the virtual memory to store temporary data in the work process.

- After finishing, enter Set and Ok to confirm.
How big should the page file be?
There is a great deal of myth surrounding this question. Two big fallacies are:
* The file should be a fixed size so that it does not get fragmented, with minimum and maximum set the same
* The file should be 2.5 times the size of RAM (or some other multiple)
Both are wrong in a modern, single-user system. A machine using Fast User switching is a special case, discussed below.)
Windows will expand a file that starts out too small and may shrink it again if it is larger than necessary, so it pays to set the initial size as large enough to handle the normal needs of your system to avoid constant changes of size. This will give all the benefits claimed for a ‘fixed’ page file. But no restriction should be placed on its further growth. As well as providing for contingencies, like unexpectedly opening a very large file, in XP this potential file space can be used as a place to assign those virtual memory pages that programs have asked for, but never brought into use. Until they get used — probably never — the file need not come into being. There is no downside in having potential space available.
For any given workload, the total need for virtual addresses will not depend on the size of RAM alone. It will be met by the sum of RAM and the page file. Therefore in a machine with small RAM, the extra amount represented by page file will need to be larger — not smaller — than that needed in a machine with big RAM. Unfortunately the default settings for system management of the file have not caught up with this: it will assign an initial amount that may be quite excessive for a large machine, while at the same leaving too little for contingencies on a small one.
How big a file will turn out to be needed depends very much on your work-load. Simple word processing and e-mail may need very little — large graphics and movie making may need a great deal. For a general workload, with only small dumps provided for (see note to ‘Should the file be left on Drive C:?’ above), it is suggested that a sensible start point for the initial size would be the greater of (a) 100 MB or (b) enough to bring RAM plus file to about 500 MB. EXAMPLE: Set the Initial page file size to 400 MB on a computer with 128 MB RAM; 250 on a 256 MB computer; or 100 MB for larger sizes.
But have a high Maximum size — 700 or 800 MB or even more if there is plenty of disk space. Having this high will do no harm. Then if you find the actual pagefile.sys gets larger (as seen in Explorer), adjust the initial size up accordingly. Such a need for more than a minimal initial page file is the best indicator of benefit from adding RAM: if an initial size set, for a trial, at 50MB never grows, then more RAM will do nothing for the machine’s performance.
Bill James MS MVP has a convenient tool, ‘WinXP-2K_Pagefile’, for monitoring the actual usage of the Page file, which can be downloaded here. A compiled Visual Basic version is available from Doug Knox’s site which may be more convenient for some users. The value seen for ‘Peak Usage’ over several days makes a good guide for setting the Initial size economically.
Note that these aspects of Windows XP have changed significantly from earlier Windows NT versions, and practices that have been common there may no longer be appropriate. Also, the ‘PF Usage’ (Page File in Use) measurement in Task Manager | Performance for ‘Page File in Use’ include those potential uses by pages that have not been taken up. It makes a good indicator of the adequacy of the ‘Maximum’ size setting, but not for the ‘Initial’ one, let alone for any need for more RAM.
Now, if it is required to finish many programs at one time, your computer will not be too lag and work strenuously and slowly anymore, if it has to run many programs at once; and the speed will be accelerated considerably. You can temporarily use this method while waiting for the appropriate conditions to upgrade your RAM.

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How to use RapidDownload to Download multi files from RapidShare

Previously, I’ve written about ‘RapidDownload – The most Easiest way to download file from RapidShare‘ but I have not written about how to use it.
In this post I will introduce you how to use RapidDownload, which is a cool tools to download file from RapidShare. Instead of downloading file from RapidShre by hand, this tool will help you download them automatically.
* Fist, get RapidDownload to your computer
* Unzip the program to a directory of your choice. NOTE: This program does not need any installing, it will just works!
* Search Rapidshare for links that you want to download
* Create a file “downloads.txt” and copy all those links in that file

* Start RapidDownload and take a break from the computer (go outside having fun, playing, shoping, etc., just use your imagination for that part…)
* When you return home, surprise!, all files that you wanted are downloaded to a directory named “downloads” from the directory where Rapidshare Downloader was started!
* If you found just too many links in one webpage to copy them by hand (maybe in a forum), do not worry! Save that html page in RapidDownload’s directory and rename it “downloads.txt”
* Start RapidDownload and, yes!, it also understands html very well! It will just look in that html file and will download all the Rapidshare links from it!
* You have many files to download and some of them have the same filename. What to do then? RapidDownload knows if a file already exists, and will autorename the newer files so that you will have all of them!
* You have many files to download and you closed RapidDownload before all of them got downloaded. What to do now? RapidDownload knows that a URL was already downloaded, and will continue next time exactly from where it left!
From where got RapidDownload the secret knowledge to skip the already downloaded files? The answer is in “history.dat” wich is created by RapidDownload and wich stores all Rapidshare URL links succesfully downloaded.

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