Tips and Tricks for Windows XP - 3

Registry Tweaks
Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

Booting Faster
This change can make Windows XP boot faster by 5 - 15 seconds (on some machines).

  • Locate the following key in the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\MemoryManagement\PrefetchParameters
  • Make sure you backup the keys by exporting them to a .reg file.
  • On the EnablePrefetcher value, change the setting from 3 to 5 (decimal).
  • Close the registry editor. 6. Restart your computer.

Shutdown Faster - Page File Tweaks - Keeping at Log Off
Speed shutdown by checking Windows doesn’t clear the page file when you turn off your PC.

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management'.
  • In the right-hand pane go to 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown'
  • Give it a value of '0'.

Shutdown More Securely - Page File Tweaks - Delete at Log Off
The paging file or virtual memory is an area of your hard disk that's used as a buffer zone when your machine's conventional memory is too busy. As this can store personal information and unencrypted passwords you can configure Windows XP to delete the contents of the pagefile when you shut down your system.

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management'.
  • In the right-hand pane go to 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown'
  • Give it a value of '1'.

Displaying Wallpapers Better
In 'Display Properties' the options available only enable you to centre or tile a background image. By editing the Registry you can position the image wherever you like.

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_CURRENT.USER\ControlPanel\Desktop'
  • Create two string values called 'Wallpaperoriginx' and 'Wallpaperoriginy'.
  • The 'x' string is the horizontal position and 'y' is vertical and the values for each are measured in pixels.

Displaying Icon's Better

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics'.
  • Create a new 'String Value' called 'ShelllconBPP'
  • Give this a value equal to the colour depth supported by your video card (for example 32 for 32 bit).

Displaying Programs in Alphabetical Order
This change will ensure newly installed applications appear in alphabetical order on the 'All Programs' menu

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_CURRENTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current ; Version\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu\Programs'.
  • In the right-hand pane, right-click on the 'Order' button and choose the option to 'Delete'.
  • Restart your PC in order for the changes to take effect.

Displaying the Internet Browser Windows in the Right Place
This fix makes sure your browser window don't opens out of position.

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\lnternet Explorer\Main'.
  • Right-click on 'Window_Placement' and choose 'Delete'.

Windows Explorer - Taking Control
By default  when you right-click a folder you have the option to 'Explore', choosing this will display the folder contents in a Windows Explorer view giving a view of all files and folders. It's possible to make a change that will give you an additional right-click menu option called 'Explore from here'. By choosing this option a new explorer window will be opened but this will only display the original folder, its sub-folders and Files.

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\Shell'

  • Create a new key called 'rootexplore'

  • Right-click on Default and modify it value to read 'Explore'.

  • Right-click on the 'rootexplore' key and create another new key called 'command'.

  • Right-click Default and modify it ' explorer.exe /e,/root,/idlisr,%i '

Windows Explorer - Useful Menu Add-ons
You can make changes to the context menu that appears when you right-click in 'My Computer' or Windows Explorer and add the options 'Copy To' and 'Move To'. This can speed up the way you work.

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AIIFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers'.
  • Right-click 'ContextMenuHandlers', then create a new key and call it 'Copy To'.
  • Change the default value {C2FBB630-2971-11D1-A18C-OOC04FD75D13}
  • Repeat this and create another key called 'Move To'.
  • Change the default value (C2FBB631-2971-11D1-A18C-OOC04FD75D13} respectively.

Windows Explorer - Ending Tasks Quicker
It's also possible to speed up the time it takes to automatically end tasks that aren't responding.

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\AutoEndTasks'
  • Set the value to 1
  • Under 'WaitToKillAppTimeout' set the number of milliseconds to be used as the delay.

Windows Explorer - File Access and Datestamps.
Whenever a directory on an NTFS drive is accessed a time stamp is added. Improve the spped of file access and turn this facility off.

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlet\Control\Fileystem’
  • Create a new DWORD value ‘NtfsDisableLastAccesUpdate’
  • Set the value to 1

Improved Internet Error Display
Sometime errors occur when you browse the web and you see a white page displaying an error message, such as Navigation Cancelled or similar. It’s possible to customise these error messages as follows:

  • Locate the following key in the registry:
    ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet\Explorer\AboutURL’s’.
  • Add the location of the files you want to display as error pages.

WindowsXP - Quick Wins | WindowsXP - More Tweaks