Windows

Introduction

This page is dedicated to information about the Windows operating system, namely Windows XP.

Tips and Tricks

• Keyboard Shortcuts - A complete list of keyboard shortcuts.
• WinKey - If you find the keyboard shortcuts mentioned above are still not enough then try this free program and configure additional Windows key shortcuts as you see fit.
• How To Switch User Accounts From the Command Prompt.
• How To Login To An Expired Windows - This article explains about how one can login to Windows after activation has expired to gain access to personal files and the internet if need be.
• How To Change Your PC’s Registered Owner in Windows.
• How To Slipstream Your XP Installation - Describes how to make a new Windows XP installation CD with additional drivers, third-party software, etc. Check out the nLite application listed in Additional Applications further down this page to make this endeavor easier.
• The Windows XP SP3 Field Guide - Learn about SP3 and how to make use of it.
• How to slipstream Windows XP SP3.
• How to uninstall hidden windows software.
• Hide your Windows share from casual network browsers.
• LifeHacker Top 10 Clipboard Tricks.
• Share Your Mac’s Printer with Windows Without Samba.
• RegSrv32 - Included with the Windows install. Useful for when one wants to load/unload DLLs without having to reboot Windows.

Customization

• Change XP Boot Screen - Customize and configure the boot screen of your Windows XP operating system.

Applications

• PowerToys - My favorites are: Tweak UI, SyncToy, Open Command Window Here, and Timershot.
• SysInternals - My favorites are: AccessEnum, Autoruns, Diskmon, LogonSessions, PageDefrag, Process Explorer, Process Monitor, ShareEnum, and TCPView.
• Explorer XP - An Windows Explorer-like application that adds additional capabilities not found in Windows Explorer. My favorite feature is the ability to rename multiple files at once using a given pattern (big time saver).
• Total Commander - Costs $34 but is actively developed and provides the same capability as Explorer XP mentioned above. If you want hotkey and command line power as well as plugin support then this is something worth checking out.
• PowerShell - Enhances scripting abilities over the default command line found in Windows. Read the free, 44-page, book on PowerShell for more info.
• UltraMon - A cool app for handling multiple monitor setups.
• DisplayFusion - Another application for handling multiple displays with one computer.
• NirCmd - Extends the capabilities of the Windows command prompt. Can also be used to script and automate processes on a machine.
• Who Lock Me - Handy little app that adds a Windows Explorer menu item that you can click on to know what process has a lock on files and directories.
• NetStumbler - Great for mobile users who want to find and connect to a WiFi network.
• SlickRun - Allows you to create command line aliases to your favorite programs.
• Exact Audio Copy - A CD to MP3 ripper that focuses on getting the best quality sound captured in an MP3.
• DVD Flick - Free software for burning DVDs.
• CDBurnerXP - Free CD burning software.
• RealDVD - Software for ripping your DVD collection to disk, legally. Claims to capture all contents of your disk so essentially it is a perfect duplicate.
• HandBrake - A DVD ripper.
• ImgBurn - Free software for ripping DVDs to disk.
• DVD Styler - Free software for creating DVD menus.
• UnderCoverXP - A DVD/CD cover printing application.
• Any Video Converter - Free software for converting AVI, DivX, FLV, RM, VOB, and other formats to a new format for a format that is compatible for a mobile device.
• WinMerge - Free software for comparing file differences and merging changes.
• Patch on Click - Creates or assembles a patched file. A patched file is a smaller version of your original file with differences only. Great for sending in e-mail where you don’t want to resend the whole file each time but just the differences.
• Easy Duplicate Finder - Find duplicate files on your system (i.e. those that have the same contents).
• iCopy - Allows you to turn your scanner and printer into copy machine via software.
• Sumatra PDF Viewer - A lightweight and fast PDF viewer that runs from a single executable. Great for portable devices.
• Foxit - Another lightweight PDF reader with a more more features than Sumatra. A great alternative to the bloated Adobe Reader.
• Virtual Clone Drive - A free app that easily allows you to mount/unmount ISO disk images as drives. For more info, read my post.
• Pismo File Mount - Works much like Virtual Clone Drive but also allows you to zip, virtual folders, etc.
• MacDrive - Allows Windows machines to access MacOS HFS+ formatted drives.
• nLite - Makes slipstreaming Windows a whole lot easier.
• HJ-Split - A simple to use program for splitting larger files into smaller chunks. Great for sending large files via e-mail or over networks that can not handle large files.
• AVG - Virus scanning and protection software.
• AppSnap - Free software for managing the automatic install and upgrade of software amongst other things.
• TrueCrypt - A free program for encrypting drives, partitions, and even single files. Uses various encryption algorithms.
• JkDefrag - An alternative to the Windows default defragmentor. Read more about it here.
• XXClone - A free way of cloning and backing up your Windows installation.
• Photomatix - An image editor dedicated to exposure blending and tonal mapping. Cost: $99.
• Hugin - A free panoramic photo stitcher application.
• Evernote - Capture information be it pictures, web, audio, etc. on multiple platforms, including mobile, with the ability to search, organize and retrieve this information at a later date.
• VirtualBox - Free visualization software for running other operating systems within Windows.
• HFSExplorer - A free app for exploring reading Mac-formatted files systems (HFS, HFS+, and HFSX) and disk images.

For another application list, check out Scott Hanselman’s Tool List.