REGISTRY TIPS for Windows

Improve SHUTDOWN time:

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CONTROL PANEL\DESKTOP and look for AutoEndTasks. On my computer default value is 0. Change it to 1. That’s all.

Further more you can reduce the time it takes for Windows to issue kill directive to all active/hung applications.

In doing this only constraint that you should make sure exists is that HungAppTimeout is greater than WaitToKillAppTimeout. Change the values of WaitToKillAppTimeout to say 3500 (since default value for HungAppTimeout 5000 and for WaitToKillAppTimeout is 20000)

Speedup boot up sequence by defragmenting all key boot files:

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction. In right hand panel, look for Enable. Right click on it and set it 'Y' for enable. This will help speedup boot time.

Customize Internet Explorer Title bar:

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main. In right hand panel look for string "Window Title" and change its value to whatever custom text you want to see.

Auto Sort Start Menu:
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder
Go to Edit/Permissions, click Advanced, clear the "Inherit From Parent" check box, click Copy from the dialog box, click OK and then clear the "Full Control" for your account and now Windows will auto sort the start menu, but you can still do it too.

Disable User Tracking:
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Add or Edit DWORD = NoInstrumentation, Value = 1
Disables Windows user tracking; better performance, much better privacy

Cache Thumbnails:
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Add or Edit DWORD = DisableThumbnailCache, Value = 1
Disables thumbnails in Windows, saving hard drive space

Faster Start Menu:
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Add or Edit Sring = MenuShowDelay, Value = 0 - 400
Changes the delay that for Windows to show a menu in the start menu; value is in ms

Browse the Network Faster:Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace
Delete subkeys {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} and {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
Speeds up network browsing of old Windows machines on the LAN by ignoring their scheduled tasks and printers

Remove Compression Option In Disk Cleanup:
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Compress old files
Delete the Default Value Key and the next time you start Disk Cleanup, it will skip the compression analysis.

Remove recycle bin from your desktop:

Open Regedit by going to START>> RUN and type Regedit and hit enter. Then you should navigate to following entry in registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\

Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} and delete it. This action should remove recycle bin from your desktop.

Remove shared documents folder from My Computer window:

Navigate to key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFolders You must see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this key, you have effectively removed my shared documents folder.

'Show hidden files' Not working:

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder

\Hidden\SHOWALL

Delete the value CheckedValue. (Its type should be REG_SZ and data should be 0 or 1.)

Create a new DWORD value called CheckedValue (same as above, except that the type is REG_DWORD) by right clicking on the right pane->New->DWORD Value. Modify the value data to 1 (0x00000001).

{If you have any concern regarding this please mention it in comments. I will be happy to help you guys.}

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How to Fix Flash Drive Files

Dear Friends,
As you all know that some Viruses change your files on your External/Flash Drive into Shortcuts. You can’t open these files from your Flash drives.
So this is the tutorial to get those lost files back.

Steps
 1. If you are affected by shortcut viruses, please DO NOT format your Flash Drive.
 2. Check your Flash Drive’s Letter ( Example : H: or I: etc)
 3. Click on Start>>Run>>type cmd there at prompt and click on OK
 4. If your Drive’s Letter is I: then type the below command in command prompt
     and Press Enter.
             attrib -h -r -s /s /d I: *.* (Replace the letter I: with your drive’s letter)

5. Now you can see all your files.
That’s all.
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Remove Stored username and Passwords

(A) To remove the Stored UserNames and Passwords from your system:
      Click Start>> Run and type Control keymgr.dll
      Remove the entries from the list.
 

OR
 
(B) Type Control Userpasswords2 in RUN prompt then click Advanced>> Manage   
       Passwords
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Free Security Enhancements

A. Buy or download Antivirus (AV) software and keep it up to date. If you want free AV, try Grisoft AVG Free Edition and double check your AV with the free online-only scanners available online.

B. Block pop-up spam messages in Windows 2000, XP by disabling the Windows Messenger service. Open Control Panel Administrative Tools Services and you'll see Messenger. Right-click and go to Properties. Set Start-up Type to Disabled and press the Stop button.

C. Use strong passwords and change them periodically. Passwords should have at least seven characters; use letters and numbers and have at least one symbol. A decent example is K8u6n@l. This will make it much harder for anyone to gain access to your accounts.

D. Install a personal firewall. Both SyGate and ZoneAlarm offer free versions.

E. Install a free spyware blocker. SpyBot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org) is perfect software in hunting out tracking cookies.

F. Check Windows Update and Office Update regularly. Click on the Automatic Updates tab in the System control panel and choose the desired options.

G. If you have a wireless network, turn on the security features Use MAC filtering, turn off SSID broadcast, and even use WEP with the biggest key you can get.

H. Be very careful of things on the Internet. Don't assume that e-mail from a particular person is actually from that person until you have further reason to believe it's that person.
Don't assume that an attachment is what it says it is.

I. Don't give out your password to anyone, even if that person claims to be from support staff.

J. Join a respectable free e-mail security list, so that you learn about emerging threats quickly and can take proper precautions.
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SPEED UP YOUR ACROBAT READER

Steps:

(A.) Go to the installation folder of acrobat reader

(C:\program files\adobe\acrobat\reader\....)

(B.) CUT all the files and folders from the "plugins" directory and PASTE in to the "Optional" directory. (Not copy-paste)

And make sure that Acrobat Reader is not OPEN.

Now your Acrobat Reader will load very fast like NOTEPAD.

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How To Remove Info From Printed Pages

Dear Friends,

By default mostly all web browsers add the date, page number and URL to any page printed from the Websites. If you don’t want this text at the top and bottom of the page, please follow these instructions:

In Internet Explorer

By default there is a small image of a printer, click that and go to Page Setup.

Navigate to File>> Page Setup then erase the text in the Headers and Footers text boxes.
(The default for header is &w&bPage &p of &P and for footer &u&b&d)

Click the OK button.

That’s all.

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SPEED UP your Windows O.S.

To speed up your windows or to increase RAM virtually,
Right click on My Computer>> Properties >> Advanced >> Performance --- Settings
>>Advanced >> Virtual Memory --- Change
Keep the initial size same as recommended and maximum size double of it then restart your system.

It will improve the speed of windows.

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Shortcuts for your Fav Websites

Hello Friends, Do you want to know  how to create shortcuts of your favorite websites?
It is simple, and you`ll have them all in your folder or on your desktop.

Just follow these easy steps:

(1) Right click on your Desktop
(2) Choose New -->> Shortcut
       In the wizard, enter your favorite website (example- www.rediff.com)
(3) Click Next

      Now you will be asked to choose a name for this, enter whatever you want.
(4) Click Finish

Now the shortcut is made and you`ll have a quick access to your favorite website.
That’s all.

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Playing Movie in MS Paint

1.      First start a movie in any Player.

2.      Open MSPaint.

3.      Now in the player when the movie is being played.Press "PrintScreen"

             button on your key board.

4.      Paste this by pressing Ctrl+V in MSPaint.

5.      Leave the movie player opened and don't minimize it.

6.      Open MSPaint now and watch the movie in MSPaint.

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Hide text message in Image

Guys, for securing private message in Image, these things are required-

1. Text File (abc.txt) ------- type your message.

2. Image File (abc.jpg) ---- your normal Picture file.

Method:

Put both the file into some Empty Directory on any drive.

Go to that directory path in command prompt and type this command-

copy /b abc.jpg+abc.txt newname.jpg

Press enter.

That’s all.

Now Open the New File (newname.jpg) in your Image Viewer Software.

It will look same as original. There will be no difference.

Now open this New File (newname.jpg) in Notepad.

There will be lots of crisp cross letter symbols.

Don't Worry.

Go to end of the file.

The abc.txt content is available at the end of new file.

Explanation:

Copy is a command in DOS which copies two files in Binary mode and creates new file.

Enjoy this trick.

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Set Priority of Processes

Follow this trick to increase the priority of active processes, this
will result in prioritization of processes.

Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC

Navigate to the second tab called Processes, right click on one of the
active processes; you will see the Set Priority option.

For example, run your DVD RW application, set the priority higher, and
there will be no crashed DVD.
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Hide folders in Windows

Hi Friends, if you want to hide your important folders from your friends or relatives then this trick will surprise you.

Rename any folder with extension {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Example-

If you want to hide the folder named movie then rename it with

movie.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

And then you will be amazed.

To get the original form,

Remove the extension using-

ren movie.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} movie in DOS or as a BATCH file

That’s all.

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Locking your PC

The simplest one.

Press [Windows key] + L

And it will lock your PC.

Now you have to enter the password to login it.

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Use your Notepad as a Diary

A Very small trick-

Just add a .LOG in the first line of your text file, save and close it.

Whenever you open the file it will add the current system Date and Time at the start point.

Then you can insert your text.

This will work like a diary.

OR

Just remember to press F5 whenever you open your notepad file.

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You Tube Hack No.2

Dear Friends, You may notice just under the lower right corner of the video window, some videos have an option to “Watch in High Quality” (360p). By default, these videos will play as a 320×240 FLV file at 320Kb/s.

The user could click on this link to “Watch in High Quality” which will reload the video and play the MP4 version, which is 480×360 at 512Kb/s.

By adding &fmt=18 to the end of the URL (without space), you’ll make the URL you share with others bring them right to the high quality version.

This video is compressed with H.264 compression, so you get better video even at the same data rate. You also go from a low fidelity mono audio feed to stereo @ 44.1 KHz sample rate.

&fmt=6 increases the resolution from 320×240 to 448×336, Flash 7 video @ 900Kbps; audio @ 44.1KHz 96Kbps Mono CBR.

&fmt=18 increases the resolution to 480×360, H.264 video @ 512Kbps; audio @ 44.1 KHz 128 Kbps Stereo.

&fmt=22 increases the resolution to 720p HD video if the source was uploaded at a high enough resolution.

{Collected from Internet}

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Speaking PDF Files

Hi Friends, This is a very interesting trick to make your pdf files speak.

Below are the shortcuts for listening pdf files in Abobe Reader 6 or higher versions:

Ctrl + Shift + b ---->> To listen the whole file.

Ctrl + Shift + v ---->> To listen the current page.

Interesting!!

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You Tube Hack

Guys, If you want to link to a video in YouTube that was lengthy, but it has a very important part in the middle, there is a trick to allow you to begin playback at that exact time.

You can specify the minutes and seconds of the start time like this:

(1.) Add  #t=54s to the end of the URL to start at 54 seconds into it:

          Original Video---- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DedCiTsIL2E

        After adding time---- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DedCiTsIL2E#t=2m52s

(2.) Add  #t=2m52s to the end of the video URL to start playback at 2 minute 52 seconds.

You can play with the seconds and minutes according to yourself.

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GSM MOBILE HACKS

(1) To check Nokia mobile or cell phones IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)

On the main screen type *#06#

Information you get from the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)

              XXXXXX     XX     XXXXXX    X

                 TAC      FAC       SNR      SP

Where,

TAC = Type approval code of your Nokia Mobile

FAC = Final assembly code of your cell phone

SNR = Serial number of your Nokia Mobile

SP = Spare

 (2) To check the phones Software revision for Nokia Mobile

      On the main screen type *#0000#

 (3) To enter in the secret menu in Nokia Phone

  On the main screen type *#92702689# [*#war0anty#]

  It will take you to a secret menu where you may find some of the information below:

Ø  Displays Serial Number.

Ø  Displays the Month and Year of Manufacture

Ø  Displays (if there) the date where the phone was purchased (MMYY)

Ø  Displays the date of the last repair - if found (0000)

Ø  Shows life timer of phone (time passes since last start)

 (4) To restore Factory Settings for Nokia mobile

  *#7780# reset to factory settings.

 (5) Taking picture without getting noticed

  Turn on/off the "click" sound made by the camera by selecting the 'Silent' profile or

   by turning warning tones on/off.

 (6) Hiding your Mobile/ Cell phone Number

   Go to: Menu > Tools > Settings > Call > Send My Caller ID >

  'Yes', 'No' or 'Set by Network' to follow the default settings of your home network.

 { It works only with very few network which provide you facility of “Private Number”}

 (7) Speed Dialing From SIM card contact (not stored in mobile phonebook)

  Type number followed by # then call.

  Example:     1#      or      2#      or      21#

(8) PRANK

§  Change closed caller group (settings >security settings>user groups) to 00000

and your phone will sound the message tone when you are near a radar speed trap.

§  Setting it to 500 will cause your phone 2 set off security alarms at shop exits.

(9) Mobile Spying-Try this secret trick if you can handle the unexpected

      {Note: This secret trick won’t work with all phones Models.}

      Now you can spy on anyone using your cell phone. Just do the following.

Ø  Activate the "Automatic Answer" in the headset profile of your cell phone and set the ringing volume to "Mute"

Ø  Short-circuit the left middle and right pins on the bottom of the mobile phone with all connections touching each other this will activate profile "Headset".

               If you can’t do this just keep your earphone connected to mobile.

Ø  Now place it under a table in a room and call it. Now you can use your phone for checking out what people are talking about in a room. Just call on your phone.

Ø  The phone receives the call without ringing and you can listen to what people are saying.

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Increase Bandwidth in Windows

A little tweak for Win-XP. Microsoft reserve 20% of your available bandwidth for their own purposes. (They don’t tell us why)

Here's how to get it back:
Click Start-->>Run-->>type gpedit.msc

This opens the group policy editor.

Then go to:

Local Computer Policy-->>Computer Configuration-->>Administrative Templates-->>Network-->>QOS Packet Scheduler->>Limit Reservable Bandwidth

Double click on Limit Reservable bandwidth. It will say it is not configured, but the truth is under the 'Explain' tab:

"By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20 percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to override the default."

So the trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth, and then set it to ZERO.

This will allow the system to reserve nothing, rather than the default 20%.

I have tested on Win-XP Pro, and Win2000.
Other OS were not tested.

Please give me your feedback.

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Google Tips & Hacks Part 3

   The best way to begin searching harder with Google is by clicking the Advanced Search link.

Ø  This lets you search for exact phrases, "all these words", or one of the specified keywords by entering search terms into the appropriate box.

Ø  Advanced Search lets you type in a Top Level Domain (like .co.in) in the "Search within website of domain" box to restrict results.

Ø  And you can click the "Date, usage rights, numeric range and more" link to access more advanced features.

Ø  Google's main search invisibly combines search terms with the Boolean construct "AND". When you enter masala dosa – it looks for masala AND dosa.

Ø  To make Google search for masala or dosa, just type masala OR dosa

Ø  Instead of OR you can type the | symbol, like this: masala | dosa

Ø  Boolean connectors like AND and OR are case sensitive. They must be in upper case.

Ø  To look for phrases, put them in quotes: "there's no masala without dosa"

Ø  Synonym search looks for words that mean similar things. Use the tilde symbol before your keyword, like this: ~lass

Ø  Exclude specific key words with the minus operator.

Ø  You can also ask Google to fill in a blank. Try: Columbus discovered *

Ø  Search for a numerical range using the numrange operator. For example, search for Sony TV between $500 and $700 with the string Sony TV $300..$500

Ø  Google recognises main file types through advanced search, including all Microsoft Office Document types, Lotus, PostScript, Shockwave Flash and plain text files.

Ø  Search for any filetype directly using the modifier filetype:[filetype extension]. For example:computer filetype:pdf

Ø  Exclude entire file types, using the same Boolean syntax we used to exclude key words earlier: rugby -filetype:doc

Ø  Google has some very powerful, hidden search parameters, too.

For example "intitle" only searches page titles. Try intitle:hacking

Ø  The modifier inurl only searches the web address of a page: give inurl:computers a go.

Ø  If you want to know how many links there are to a site? Try link:sitename – for example link:www.facebook.com

Ø  Similarly, you can find pages that Google thinks are related in content, using the related: modifier. Use it like this: related:www.facebook.com

Ø  The modifier info:site_name returns information about the specified page.

Ø  Specify a site to search with the site: modifier – like this: search tips site:www.techradar.com

Ø  Use the site: modifier when searching Google Images, at images.google.com. For example: dvd player site:www.amazon.com

Ø  Similar, using "site:.com" will only return results from .com domains.

Ø  If you use the operator "source:" in Google News, you can pick specific archives. For example: heather mills source:daily_mail

Ø  Using the "location:" filter enables you to return news from a chosen country. location:india for example.

Ø  Similarly, Google Blogsearch (blogsearch.google.com) has its own syntax. You can search for a blog title, for example, using inblogtitle:<keyword>

Ø  Google really likes movies. Try typing director: The Dark Knight into the main search box.

Ø  For cast lists, try cast: name_of_film

Ø  The modifier music: followed by a band, song or album returns music reviews.

Ø  Try searching for weather London – you'll get a full 4-day forecast.

Ø  There's also a built-in dictionary. Try define:<word> in the search box.

Ø  Google stores the content of old sites. You can search this cache direct with the syntax keyword cache:site_url

Ø  No calculator handy? Use Google's built in features. Try typing 15*18 and hitting "Google Search".

Ø  It does currency conversion too. Try 200 rupees in dollars.

Ø  And temperature! Just type: 98 f to c to convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade.

Ø  Want to know how clever Google really is? Type 2476 in roman numerals, then hit "Google Search"...

Ø  "Custom Search" enables you to create a branded Google search for your own site.

Ø  An active, useful service missing from the list is "Personalized Search" – but you can access it via www.google.com/psearch when you're logged in.

This page lists searches you have recently made – and is divided into categories. Clicking "pause" stops Google from recording your history.

Ø  Did you know you can search within your returned results? Scroll down to the bottom of the search results page to find the link.

Ø  Looking for a map? Just add map to the end of your query, like this: Delhi map

Ø  Google finds images just as easily and lists them at the top, when you add image to the end of your search.

Ø  Google Image Search recognises faces... add &imgtype=face to the end of the returned URL in the location bar, then hit enter to filter out pictures that aren't people.

Ø  Keeping an eye on stocks? Type stocks: followed by market ticker for the company and Google returns the data from Google Finance.

Ø  Enter the carrier and flight number in Google's main search box to return flight tracking information.

Ø  What time is it? Find out anywhere by typing time then the name of a place.

Ø  You may have noticed Google suggests alternate spellings for search terms – that's the built in spell checker!

Ø  You can invoke the spell checker directly by using spell: followed by your keyword.

Ø  Click "I'm Feeling Lucky" to be taken straight to the first page Google finds for your keyword.

Ø  Enter a statistics-based query like population of Mumbai into Google, and it will show you the answer at the top of its results.

Ø  If your search has none-English results, click "Translate this Page" to see it in English.

Ø  You can search foreign sites specifically by clicking "Language Tools", then choosing which countries sites to translate your query to.

Ø  Other features on the language tools page include a translator for blocks of text you can type or cut and paste.

Ø  There's also a box that you can enter a direct URL into, translating to the chosen language.

Ø  Near the language tools link, you'll see the "Search Preferences". This handy page is full of secret functionality.

You can specify which languages Google returns results in, ticking as many (or few) boxes as you like.

Ø  Google's Safe Search protects you from explicit sexual content. You can choose to filter results more stringently or switch it off completely.

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