Windows Xp Hacks

More and more computer owners are looking to get the most out of Windows XP. But it's never been easy to get under the hood of a Windows system, and XP is complex enough to make even seasoned Windows users anxious for help. Our new edition of Windows XP Hacks lets users tweak new features that come with SP2, including the IE pop-up blocker, Windows Firewall, and the new wireless client. And there are hacks for solving SP2 upgrade problems. Readers also will find more hacks for digital media-most notably music, including iTunes-file distribution with BitTorrent, and hacks on high- visibility web software, services and exploits that have emerged since the last edition, such as Gmail, phishing exploits, and the Firefox browser.

Preston Gralla, the author of more than 20 books, is also a freelance journalist and columnist. He has written for major national newspapers and magazines, including PC Magazine, Computerworld, the Los Angeles Times, the Dallas Morning News (where he was the technology columnist), USA Today and several others. A well-known technology expert, Preston has also appeared on many TV and radio programs and networks, including CNN, MSNBC and NPR. In addition, he's won a number of awards for his writing, including for "Best Feature in a Computer Magazine" from the Computer Press Association. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Credits

xi

Preface

xv

Chapter 1. Startup and Shutdown

1

(24)

1. Customize Multiboot Startup Options

1

(5)

2. Change the Picture That Appears on the XP Startup Screen

6

(4)

3. Speed Up Boot and Shutdown Times

10

(3)

4. Halt Startup Programs and Services

13

(5)

5. Create Multiple Startup Profiles with Advanced Startup Manager

18

(3)

6. Miscellaneous Startup and Shutdown Hacks

21

(2)

7. Control User Logins by Hacking the Registry

23

(2)

Chapter 2. The User Interface

25

(60)

8. Customize the GUI with Tweak UI

25

(5)

9. Control the Control Panel

30

(6)

10. Hack the Start Menu and Taskbar

36

(2)

11. Clean Up the Most Frequently Used Programs List

38

(4)

12. Rename and Change "Unchangeable" Desktop Icons and System Objects

42

(2)

13. Remove "Nonremovable" Desktop Icons

44

(2)

14. Hack Your Way Through the Interface

46

(4)

15. Remove "Uninstallable" XP Utilities

50

(3)

16. Make Your PC Work Like a Mac

53

(9)

17. Create Your Own XP Themes and Find Thousands Online

62

(4)

18. Give XP a Makeover with Window Blinds

66

(5)

19. Make Your Own Cursors and Icons

71

(5)

20. Instant Linux

76

(9)

Chapter 3. Windows Explorer

85

(40)

21. Generate Folder and File Listings for Printing or Editing

85

(4)

22. Control Windows Explorer with Command-Line Shortcuts

89

(4)

23. Empower Windows Explorer with PowerDesk Pro

93

(3)

24. Better File Rename

96

(2)

25. Find Files Faster by Mastering the Indexing Service's Query Language

98

(5)

26. Force Windows Explorer into True Usefulness

103

(4)

27. Customize Folder Icons and Balloon Text

107

(2)

28. A Power User's Hidden Weapon: Improve the Context Menu

109

(3)

29. Take Your Work on the Go with Offline Files and the Briefcase

112

(6)

30. Get More Hard-Disk Space by Using NTFS Compression

118

(5)

31. Put a Command-Line Prompt on Your Desktop

123

(2)

Chapter 4. The Web

125

(93)

32. Give Internet Explorer a Face-Lift

125

(3)

33. Stop Pop Ups with SP2-and Without It

128

(6)

34. Kill Spyware and Web Bugs

134

(5)

35. Take a Bite Out of Cookies

139

(7)

36. Surf Anonymously Without a Trace

146

(4)

37. Don't Get Reeled In by Phishers

150

(7)

38. Read Web Pages Offline

157

(3)

39. Hack Internet Explorer with the Group Policy Editor

160

(4)

40. Speed Up File Downloads

164

(1)

41. Secrets of Web Site Hosting with Internet Information Services (IIS)

165

(5)

42. Surf the Internet Ad-Free

170

(6)

43. Hack Firefox

176

(7)

44. Build Your Own Firefox Search Engine

183

(5)

45. Google Your Desktop

188

(10)

46. Out-Google Google with MSN Desktop Search

198

(11)

47. Better Internet Searching from Your Desktop

209

(3)

48. Run Java Applets Without Crashes or Problems

212

(6)

Chapter 5. Networking

218

(33)

49. Tweak DNS Settings for Faster Internet Access

218

(4)

50. Optimize Your Home Router

222

(7)

51. Troubleshoot Network Connections with ping, tracert, and pathping

229

(4)

52. Troubleshoot Network Connections with netsh, netstat, and ipconfig

233

(4)

53. Speed Up Network Browsing

237

(2)

54. Control Another PC with Remote Access

239

(2)

55. Make Servers Always Available by Mapping a Hostname to a Dynamic IP Address

241

(2)

56. Renew Your DHCP-Assigned IP Address

243

(1)

57. Repair a Broken TCP/IP Connection

244

(1)

58. VoIP Hacks

245

(6)

Chapter 6. Email

251

(36)

59. Slam That Spam

251

(12)

60. Open Blocked File Attachments in Outlook and Outlook Express

263

(4)

61. Back Up and Restore Outlook and Outlook Express Datafiles

267

(4)

62. Retrieve Web-Based Email with Your Email Software

271

(3)

63. Gmail Hacks

274

(7)

64. Fire Outlook and Outlook Express

281

(6)

Chapter 7. Wireless

287

(52)

65. Go War-Driving for WiFi Access

287

(6)

66. Extend the Range of Your Wireless Network

293

(3)

67. Check WiFi Network Performance with Qcheck to Help Improve Throughput

296

(4)

68. Protect Your Home WiFi Network

300

(10)

69. Enable WiFi Encryption

310

(7)

70. Stop Moochers from Stealing Your WiFi Bandwidth

317

(4)

71. Solve Hotspot Woes

321

(5)

72. Set Up Bluetooth on XP

326

(6)

73. Connect to the Internet with a Bluetooth Phone

332

(3)

74. Set Up an Ad Hoc WiFi Network

335

(4)

Chapter 8. Security

339

(35)

75. Hide Folders and Files with the Encrypting File System

339

(6)

76. Test Your Security with Shields UP!

345

(1)

77. Protect Your Computer with the New Windows Firewall

346

(10)

78. ZoneAlarm: The World's Best Free Firewall

356

(4)

79. Use a Proxy Server to Protect Your PC

360

(4)

80. Punch an Escape Hole Through Your Firewall

364

(6)

81. Close Down Open Ports and Block Protocols

370

(2)

82. Set Up a Virtual Private Network

372

(2)

Chapter 9. The Registry

374

(18)

83. Don't Fear the Registry

374

(8)

84. Hack Away at the Registry

382

(3)

85. Safely Edit the Registry Using .reg Files

385

(3)

86. Better Registry Backups

388

(3)

87. Track and Restore Registry Changes with RegSpy

391

(1)

Chapter 10. Applications

392

(38)

88. Remove Unruly Applications and Uninstall Entries

392

(3)

89. Force XP-Incompatible Applications to Run

395

(4)

90. Force Older Programs to Use XP Common Controls

399

(1)

91. Launch Applications with Command-Line Shortcuts

400

(4)

92. Open and Create Microsoft Documents Without Microsoft Office

404

(1)

93. Stop Hidden Fields in Word from Stealing Your Files and Information

405

(1)

94. Speed Up Your Hard Disk by Improving Defragging

406

(3)

95. Extend Your Screen Real Estate with Virtual Desktops

409

(6)

96. Build a Better Backup Strategy

415

(5)

97. Go Beyond Messaging with Windows Messenger

420

(5)

98. Universal Messaging: Trillian Unites AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, and ICQ

425

(5)

Chapter 11. Graphics and Multimedia

430

(36)

99. Image Conversion in a Pinch

430

(3)

100. Problem-Free CD Burning

433

(4)

101. Save Streaming Music to Your PC

437

(3)

102. Import Lyrics into iTunes and iPod

440

(4)

103. Convert from Apple iTunes Format

444

(3)

104. Use Ogg Vorbis for Digital Music

447

(7)

105. Hack Windows Media Player with TweakMP

454

(4)

106. Fix Windows Media Player's Privacy Problems

458

(2)

107. Make Videos with Windows Movie Maker

460

(6)

Chapter 12. System Performance

466

(31)

108. Track System Performance with the Performance Console

466

(4)

109. Get the Most Out of Your RAM

470

(4)

110. More Power: Registry Hacks to Speed Up XP

474

(2)

111. Repair and Recover with the Recovery Console

476

(4)

112. Speed Up System Performance with the Task Manager

480

(7)

113. Hack Your Way to a Cleaner Hard Disk

487

(3)

114. Fix SP2 Upgrade Woes

490

(7)

Chapter 13. Hardware

497

(24)

115. Troubleshoot Hardware by Decoding Device Manager Error Messages

497

(8)

116. Uncover Hidden Hardware with the Device Manager

505

(3)

117. Check Your PC's Pulse and Tweak It for Better Performance

508

(2)

118. Remap Your Keyboard

510

(2)

119. Use ClearType for Better Laptop and LCD Resolution

512

(1)

120. Networking on the Cheap: Set Up a Direct Cable Connection

513

(8)

Index

521

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials