Some XP Tips & Tricks

• Lock Windows to protect computer :
  You can lock
  Windows to protect the computer when leaving the station easily by
  creating a shortcut with the path rundll32.exeuser32.dll,
  LockWorkStation. The Windows key + L is also a shortcut to this
  feature.
  
• Edit sysoc.inf to list all software :
  To show all
  software that can be removed from your computer (including protected
  Windows services), you can manually edit (using notepad for example)
  the sysoc.inf file located in Windows\inf\. Just remove the word hide
  next to the software pack.
  Note - use this at your own risk. Removing critical components of the system will make Windows instable.
  
• Windows XP comes with IPv4 and IPv6 :
  Windows XP
  comes both IPv4 and IPv6 support. To enable IPv6, you can install the
  protocols needed with the command "ipv6 install" in the command-prompt.
  Then type ipv6 /? to see the options. The installation will not remove
  the IPv4 protocols so your current configuration will still work.
  
• Access Task Manager with shortcut :
  To access the Task Manager easier, you can make a shortcut that points to %windir%\system32\taskmgr.exe.
  
• Stop treating ZIP files like Folders :
  If you
  don't want your Windows XP to treat ZIP files like folders, you can
  disable this component by running regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll at the
  command prompt or Run dialog. If you start missing it, you can enable
  it by typing regsvr32 zipfldr.dll.
  
• Run program as diffrent user :
  You can run a program as a different user. Right click an application and select Run As command.
  
• Switch users leaving applications opened :
  You can
  switch users leaving the applications opened too (*NOTE* use this only
  when needed since it could lead to system instability).
  Go to Task Manager -
  processes and end the process explorer.exe. This will end only your
  session and not all applications. Then go to Applications tab, click
  New task and type runas /user:domainname\username explorer.exe. A
  password prompt will appear to login to the desired username. The
  user's session will start, with all your previously applications
  running.
  I recommend to open first a command-line prompt and type runas /? to see all the options available.
  
• Rename multiple files in Windows at once :
  Rename
  multiple files in Windows at once. Select them all, right click and
  select Rename. Enter the desired name. They will be renamed using what
  you specified, with a number in brackets to distinguish them.
  
• Task kill feature in Windows :
  Windows has a task
  kill feature similar to Linux. Go to a command prompt and run the
  command tasklist to see running processes with PID numbers. Then type
  tskill to end the specific task. This forces an instant
  closing of the task.
  
• Edit features with GPEDIT.MSC :
  You can edit many features by running gpedit.msc. You can add log on/log off scripts here and many features.
  
• Edit accounts in the command prompt :
  You can edit accounts by running "control userpasswords2" at the command prompt.
  
• Use systeminfo.exe to see System Information :
  You
  can use the systeminfo.exe command in the command prompt to see System
  Information, including all Windows updates and hotfixes.
  
• Disable system services for maximum performance :
  There are system services that you can disable to free up the system's
  load. To access the interface that permits you to make changes to
  system's services, type services.msc and the command prompt.
  This is a list of services that are *usually* useless and can be safely disabled.
  

1. Alerter
   
2. Application Layer Gateway Service,
   
3. Application Management
   
4. Automatic Updates
   
5. Background Intelligent Transfer
   
6. Clipbook
   
7. Distributed Link Tracking Client
   
8. Distributed Transaction Coordinater
   
9. Error Reporting Service
   
10. Fast User Switching Compatibility
    
11. IMAPI CD-Burning
    
12. Indexing Service
    
13. IPSEC Services
    
14. Messenger
    
15. Net Logon
    
16. Net Meeting
    
17. Remote Desktop Sharing
    
18. Network DDE
    
19. Network DDE DSDM
    
20. Portable Media Serial Number
    
21. Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
    
22. Remote Registry
    
23. Secondary Logon
    
24. Smartcard
    
25. SSDP Discovery Service
    
26. Uninterruptible Power Supply
    
27. Universal Plug and Play Device Host
    
28. Upload Manager
    
29. Webclient
    
30. Wireless Zero Configuration
    
31. WMI Performance Adaptor
    

NOTE:
Make sure you don't need them since some applications you're using
could depend on them. If you make any application to fail by disabling
any of the services, go back and enable it again.

• Repair Windows XP by using the XP installation CD:
  If your system failes to start due to an error related to missing
  HAL.DLL, invalid Boot.ini or any other critical system boot files you
  can repair this by using the XP installation CD. Simply boot from your
  XP Setup CD and enter the Recovery Console. Then run "attrib -H -R -S"
  on the C:\Boot.ini file and delete it. Run "Bootcfg /Rebuild" and then
  Fixboot.
  

NOTE: Use at your own risk, i take no responsibility if you mess up your system using any of these.

Nice tricks, thanks.

Hah, that last part fixed my problem on my other computer, which would loop at startup. Nice tips.