*HOT* Windows XP Tips n Tricks - Page 4 - PC Help Forum - Free Computer Help, Windows, Hardware, Software and more!

spectre777 · #46 06-23-2007

Originally Posted by Hengis

Run Commands
-----------------------------------------------------------
compmgmt.msc - Computer management
devmgmt.msc - Device manager
diskmgmt.msc - Disk management
dfrg.msc - Disk defrag
eventvwr.msc - Event viewer
fsmgmt.msc - Shared folders
gpedit.msc - Group policies
lusrmgr.msc - Local users and groups
perfmon.msc - Performance monitor
rsop.msc - Resultant set of policies
secpol.msc - Local security settings
services.msc - Various Services
msconfig - System Configuration Utility
regedit - Registry Editor
msinfo32 _ System Information
sysedit _ System Edit
win.ini _ windows loading information(also system.ini)
winver _ Shows current version of windows
mailto: _ Opens default email client
command _ Opens command prompt

Run Commands to access the control panel
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Add/Remove Programs control - appwiz.cpl
Date/Time Properties control - timedate.cpl
Display Properties control - desk.cpl
FindFast control - findfast.cpl
Fonts Folder control - fonts
Internet Properties control - inetcpl.cpl
Keyboard Properties control - main.cpl keyboard
Mouse Properties control - main.cpl
Multimedia Properties control - mmsys.cpl
Network Properties control - netcpl.cpl
Password Properties control - password.cpl
Printers Folder control - printers
Sound Properties control - mmsys.cpl sounds
System Properties control - sysdm.cpl

Command Prompt
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANSI.SYS - Defines functions that change display graphics, control
cursor movement, and reassign keys.
APPEND - Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file
or running a command.
ARP - Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices.
ASSIGN - Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter.
ASSOC - View the file associations.
AT - Schedule a time to execute commands or programs.
ATMADM - Lists connections and addresses seen by Windows ATM call manager.
ATTRIB - Display and change file attributes.
BATCH - Recovery console command that executes a series of commands in a file.
BOOTCFG - Recovery console command that allows a user to view, modify,
and rebuild the boot.ini
BREAK - Enable / disable CTRL + C feature.
CACLS - View and modify file ACL's.
CALL - Calls a batch file from another batch file.
CD - Changes directories.
CHCP - Supplement the International keyboard and character set information.
CHDIR - Changes directories.
CHKDSK - Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors.
CHKNTFS - Check the hard disk drive running NTFS for errors.
CHOICE - Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file.
CLS - Clears the screen.
CMD - Opens the command interpreter.
COLOR - Easily change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS window.
COMP - Compares files.
COMPACT - Compresses and uncompress files.
CONTROL - Open control panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt.
CONVERT - Convert FAT to NTFS.
COPY - Copy one or more files to an alternate location.
CTTY - Change the computers input/output devices.
DATE - View or change the systems date.
DEBUG - Debug utility to create assembly programs to modify hardware settings.
DEFRAG - Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs.
DEL - Deletes one or more files.
DELETE - Recovery console command that deletes a file.
DELTREE - Deletes one or more files and/or directories.
DIR - List the contents of one or more directory.
DISABLE - Recovery console command that disables Windows system services
or drivers.
DISKCOMP - Compare a disk with another disk.
DISKCOPY - Copy the contents of one disk and place them on another disk.
DOSKEY - Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past.
DOSSHELL - A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users.
DRIVPARM - Enables overwrite of original device drivers.
ECHO - Displays messages and enables and disables echo.
EDIT - View and edit files.
EDLIN - View and edit files.
EMM386 Load extended Memory Manager.
ENABLE - Recovery console command to enable a disable service or driver.
ENDLOCAL - Stops the localization of the environment changes enabled by
the setlocal command.
ERASE - Erase files from computer.
EXIT - Exit from the command interpreter.
EXPAND - Expand a Microsoft Windows file back to it's original format.
EXTRACT - Extract files from the Microsoft Windows cabinets.
FASTHELP - Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands and information about them.
FC Compare files.
FDISK - Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive.
FIND - Search for text within a file.
FINDSTR - Searches for a string of text within a file.

FIXBOOT - Writes a new boot sector.
FIXMBR - Writes a new boot record to a disk drive.
FOR - Boolean used in batch files.
FORMAT - Command to erase and prepare a disk drive.
FTP - Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.
FTYPE - Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTO - Moves a batch file to a specific label or location.
GRAFTABL - Show extended characters in graphics mode.
HELP - Display a listing of commands and brief explanation.
IF - Allows for batch files to perform conditional processing.
IFSHLP.SYS - 32-bit file manager.
IPCONFIG Network command to view network adapter settings and assigned values.
KEYB - Change layout of keyboard.
LABEL - Change the label of a disk drive.
LH - Load a device driver in to high memory.
LISTSVC - Recovery console command that displays the services and drivers.
LOADFIX - Load a program above the first 64k.
LOADHIGH - Load a device driver in to high memory.
LOCK - Lock the hard disk drive.
LOGON - Recovery console command to list installations and enable
administrator login.
MAP - Displays the device name of a drive.
MD - Command to create a new directory.
MEM - Display memory on system.
MKDIR - Command to create a new directory.
MODE - Modify the port or display settings.
MORE - Display one page at a time.
MOVE - Move one or more files from one directory to another directory.
MSAV - Early Microsoft Virus scanner.
MSD - Diagnostics utility.
MSCDEX - Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM.
NBTSTAT - Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT.
NET - Update, fix, or view the network or network settings.
NETSH - Configure dynamic and static network information from MS-DOS.
NETSTAT - Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.
NLSFUNC - Load country specific information.
NSLOOKUP - Look up an IP address of a domain or host on a network.
PATH - View and modify the computers path location.
PATHPING - View and locate locations of network latency.
PAUSE - Command used in batch files to stop the processing of a command.
PING - Test / send information to another network computer or network device.
POPD - Changes to the directory or network path stored by the pushd command.
POWER - Conserve power with computer portables.
PRINT - Prints data to a printer port.
PROMPT - View and change the MS-DOS prompt.
PUSHD - Stores a directory or network path in memory so it can be
returned to at any time.
QBASIC - Open the QBasic.
RD - Removes an empty directory.
REN - Renames a file or directory.
RENAME - Renames a file or directory.
RMDIR - Removes an empty directory.
ROUTE - View and configure windows network route tables.
RUNAS - Enables a user to execute a program on another computer.
SCANDISK - Run the scandisk utility.
SCANREG - Scan registry and recover registry from errors.
SET - Change one variable or string to another.
SETLOCAL - Enables local environments to be changed without affecting
anything else.
SETVER - Change MS-DOS version to trick older MS-DOS programs.
SHARE - Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities.
SHIFT - Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program.
SHUTDOWN - Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt.
SMARTDRV - Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory.
SORT - Sorts the input and displays the output to the screen.
START - Start a separate window in Windows from the MS-DOS prompt.
SUBST - Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter.
SWITCHES - Remove add functions from MS-DOS.
SYS - Transfer system files to disk drive.
TELNET - Telnet to another computer / device from the prompt.
TIME - View or modify the system time.
TITLE - Change the title of their MS-DOS window.
TRACERT - Visually view a network packets route across a network.
TREE - View a visual tree of the hard disk drive.
TYPE - Display the contents of a file.
UNDELETE - Undelete a file that has been deleted.
UNFORMAT - Unformat a hard disk drive.
UNLOCK - Unlock a disk drive.
VER - Display the version information.
VERIFY - Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been
written properly.
VOL - Displays the volume information about the designated drive.
XCOPY - Copy multiple files, directories, and/or drives from one
location to another.
TRUENAME - When placed before a file, will display the whole directory
in which it exists
TASKKILL It allows you to kill those unneeded or locked up applications

Windows XP Shortcuts
--------------------------------------------------------------
ALT+- (ALT+hyphen) Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI)
child window's System menu
ALT+ENTER View properties for the selected item
ALT+ESC Cycle through items in the order they were opened
ALT+F4 Close the active item, or quit the active program
ALT+SPACEBAR Display the System menu for the active window
ALT+TAB Switch between open items
ALT+Underlined letter Display the corresponding menu
BACKSPACE View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer
CTRL+A Select all
CTRL+B Bold
CTRL+C Copy
CTRL+I Italics
CTRL+O Open an item
CTRL+U Underline
CTRL+V Paste
CTRL+X Cut
CTRL+Z Undo
CTRL+F4 Close the active document
CTRL while dragging Copy selected item
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging Create shortcut to selected iteM
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word
CTRL+LEFT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL+DOWN ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL+UP ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the
previous paragraph
SHIFT+DELETE Delete selected item permanently without placing the item
in the Recycle Bin
ESC Cancel the current task
F1 Displays Help
F2 Rename selected item
F3 Search for a file or folder
F4 Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer
F5 Refresh the active window
F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10 Activate the menu bar in the active program
SHIFT+F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
CTRL+ESC Display the Start menu
SHIFT+CTRL+ESC Launches Task Manager
SHIFT when you insert a CD Prevent the CD from automatically playing
WIN Display or hide the Start menu
WIN+BREAK Display the System Properties dialog box
WIN+D Minimizes all Windows and shows the Desktop
WIN+E Open Windows Explorer
WIN+F Search for a file or folder
WIN+F+CTRL Search for computers
WIN+L Locks the desktop
WIN+M Minimize or restore all windows
WIN+R Open the Run dialog box
WIN+TAB Switch between open items

Windows Explorer Shortcuts
-------------------------------------------------------------
ALT+SPACEBAR - Display the current window's system menu
SHIFT+F10 - Display the item's context menu
CTRL+ESC - Display the Start menu
ALT+TAB - Switch to the window you last used
ALT+F4 - Close the current window or quit
CTRL+A - Select all items
CTRL+X - Cut selected item(s)
CTRL+C - Copy selected item(s)
CTRL+V - Paste item(s)
CTRL+Z - Undo last action
CTRL+(+) - Automatically resize the columns in the right hand pane
TAB - Move forward through options
ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Move forward to a previous view
ALT+LEFT ARROW - Move backward to a previous view
SHIFT+DELETE - Delete an item immediately
BACKSPACE - View the folder one level up
ALT+ENTER - View an item's properties
F10 - Activate the menu bar in programs
F6 - Switch between left and right panes
F5 - Refresh window contents
F3 - Display Find application
F2 - Rename selected item

Internet Explorer Shortcuts
--------------------------------------------------------------
CTRL+A - Select all items on the current page
CTRL+D - Add the current page to your Favorites
CTRL+E - Open the Search bar
CTRL+F - Find on this page
CTRL+H - Open the History bar
CTRL+I - Open the Favorites bar
CTRL+N - Open a new window
CTRL+O - Go to a new location
CTRL+P - Print the current page or active frame
CTRL+S - Save the current page
CTRL+W - Close current browser window
CTRL+ENTER - Adds the http://www. (url) .com
SHIFT+CLICK - Open link in new window
BACKSPACE - Go to the previous page
ALT+HOME - Go to your Home page
HOME - Move to the beginning of a document
TAB - Move forward through items on a page
END - Move to the end of a document
ESC - Stop downloading a page
F11 - Toggle full-screen view
F5 - Refresh the current page
F4 - Display list of typed addresses
F6 - Change Address bar and page focus
ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Go to the next page
SHIFT+CTRL+TAB - Move back between frames
SHIFT+F10 - Display a shortcut menu for a link
SHIFT+TAB - Move back through the items on a page
CTRL+TAB - Move forward between frames
CTRL+C - Copy selected items to the clipboard
CTRL+V - Insert contents of the clipboard
ENTER - Activate a selected link
HOME - Move to the beginning of a document
END - Move to the end of a document
F1 - Display Internet Explorer Help

Now you know why he owns the site.

grtlkcanadian · #47 07-21-2007

Alt + <- arrow key or ---> arrow key moves you to previous or next page in web browser

A O C · #48 07-30-2007

oh god, so many i could probably write a book.

but ill just post my fav.

automatically close programs that stop responding:
open regedit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. in the right hand pane, change the value of AutoEndTasks from 0 to 1. there is also another value with the same name in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop that forces them to close at shutdown. change that from 0 to 1 also.

stop error-reporting after a program crash:
navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHealth\Err orReporting. in the right hand pane, change the value of DoReport from 1 to 0.

terminate the shared documents folder: (this deletes the shared documents folder from view from my computer)
navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\DelegateF olders. delete the key (so helpfully named) {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}.

chipper · #49 08-20-2007

Nice tip A O C. Thanks for that! Really need the "stop error-reporting"

madmatt2006 · #50 09-03-2007

Here's another one

very handy

If you like to make use of the image preview thumbnails which Windows XP and Vista make available in the Explorer folder, but think the size is too big or small, change it. You can make the size of the thumbnails anywhere between 32 x 32 (the size of an icon) to 256 x 256 (quite a bit larger) by making a change in the registry:[/font]

Open the Registry Editor (Start > Run > regedit).[/font]
Navigate to the follow folder/key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer
Add a new DWORD entry called “ThumbnailSize”.
Set the value to be any number from 32 to 256.

Once you make this change, your image previews will still be proportional, but no larger than the value you specified in the ThumbnailSize entry.

ih8bills · #51 09-26-2007

This is a great tool for a "hosed" boot file in Wix XP

Langa Letter: XP's Little-Known 'Rebuild' Command -- XP Management -- InformationWeek

GhastMaster · #52 10-01-2007

In IE7 press ALT to view the File, Edit, View, etc. tabs. For other IE hotkeys look here.

3991vhtes · #53 10-14-2007

ALT to view file, edit, view, etc works in EVERYTHING under windows.

GaRHaR · #54 10-14-2007

That last tip from 3991vhtes is for Vista only

XP doesn't hide the File Edit, etc options

Clockwork · #55 10-31-2007

To stop annoying programs running at startup goto Start menu select run and type 'wincfg.msi' but be warned if you dont know what its for leave it running.