WindowsTips to enhance PC Performance-PART 2

1) Stop 'focus stealing' by background applications and pop-ups

If you get annoyed when pop-up windows or other applications you have running replace the window you are currently working on, here's a registry edit that can help you deal with this behaviour.

Start Regedit and navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.'

Double click the 'ForegroundLockTimeout' key. Change the notation to decimal. This key controls the amount of time that Windows will wait for user input in the currently active window before shifting focus to whatever other window is demanding attention. The default is 200000 milliseconds decimal, or 200 seconds. Change this to a greater millisecond value if you want to prevent Windows XP from stealing the focus while you are occupied.

2) Add the Admin Tools to the Start Menu


To do this right click on the start button and select 'properties.' Click the 'customize' button next to the 'start menu' option. Choose the 'advanced' tab. In the 'start menu items' box, scroll down until you find the 'administrative tools' entry. Change the option to 'display on the all programs menu and the start menu.'




3) Closing Multiple Taskbar Items at Once


Simply hold down the CTRL key and click on each taskbar item you want closed. They will all become selected, and you can right click on any one of them and choose 'close group' to close all selected windows.




4) Using 'Groups' in Windows Explorer

To use groups in Windows Explorer navigate to the folder you wish to group and go to 'view\arrange icons by\' then select the 'show in groups' option. Now, whenever you choose an 'arrange icons by' option such as name, date modified or size, Explorer will group them in categories depending on each file's properties.
This is especially handy when searching for files of a specific type.

5) Disable the Annoying 'Click' Sound in Internet Explorer.


Go to 'start\control panel\sounds and audio devices' and choose the 'sounds' tab.

Now in the 'program events' windows, scroll down to the 'windows explorer' section and highlight 'start navigation.' Now change the 'sounds' dropdown box at the bottom of the window to '(none).' This will rid you of the infernal click.




6) Rollback Device Drivers in Case of Error


To roll back a device driver to a previous version right click on 'my computer' and select 'manage.' Open 'device manager' and highlight and double click the device whose drivers you wish to roll back. Go to the 'driver' tab and select 'roll back driver.' Your system will revert to the most recent saved driver after a restart.




7) Avoid Having to Re-Activate Windows XP After Reinstallation

Normally, when you reinstall Windows XP you need to also reactivate the operating system by phone or Internet in order to use it. This can be avoided by simply copying a single file from your old installation to your new one.

The 'wpa.dbl' file, located in the 'c:\windows\system32\' folder, indicated to the operating system whether the current hardware configuration has been activated or not. As long as you have not changed any of the hardware in your PC during the reinstall, you can simply copy the file onto a floppy or CD and copy it back into Windows after the reinstall to avoid the re-activation procedure.

8) Mouse Problem? Use MouseKeys

Windows XP includes the 'mousekeys' application in with its suite of accessibility applications. This small program enables the number pad keys to control the mouse pointer, making your life much, much easier.

To activate MouseKeys, hit CTRL + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK

9) Place Your Internet Favourites on Your Start Menu

Here's a quick tip which saves you a step or two in opening your web browser to commonly used web sites.Right click on the start button and choose 'properties,' then hit the 'customize' button. Choose the 'advanced' tab and scroll down the 'start menu items' box until you reach the 'favourites menu' option. Check it to add your IE favourites list to the start menu as a new tree.

10) Disabling Startup Password

If you are the only user of your system and you are tired of entering the username and password each time you login, you can disable this requirement.

To do this go to 'start\run' and type 'control userpasswords2'.

Uncheck the 'user must enter a user name and password to use this computer' checkbox.