Windows tip: Rid your folders of Thumbs.db

All the Windows users out there who have "Show hidden files and folders" turned on have probably noticed that pesky Thumbs.db file which plants itself in every folder on your PC of its own accord.
Turns out you can stop Thumbs.db from breeding any more: from the Folder Options dialog, simply check off "Do not cache thumbnails." Of course this will slow down rendering image thumbnails in Explorer, but that won't matter to those of us with fast computers who like to control what files go where.

Boot Up Faster

1)Boot Up Faster
All of you readers running Windows will know how much of a pain it is to boot up the ol' computer (because a lot of times it takes a while). Here's a good tip to help you get blogging, surfing the web, and reading Liehacker posts quicker:
Click Start and then click on Run.Into the dialogue box type "msconfig"
This will now open a dialogue with numerous options available. Click on the tab to the far right (it is called Startup), and you shall be presented with a list of programs and processes that will have check marks beside their names. These are the various apps that load on your computer when you boot it up. Help make the boot a little less painful by unchecking boxes of programs that you know you don't use from startup unless you specifically need them. Warning: This is recommended for intermediate Windows Users only. Lack of in-depth knowledge or understanding of Windows may result in unwanted results (such as the computer not working as intended). For example, if you don't use Quick Time often, uncheck the box beside "qttask." This will now stop Quick Time from booting with your computer. Uncheck as many as you like, but don't uncheck programs that you are unsure what they do. Congratulations! Your boot times should now be faster depending on how many processes were unchecked. Happy Booting fellow readers!
2)start -> run -> services.msc
Turning off unecessary services can make your system run faster, and more secure. If you have a custom wireless client that comes with your wifi card, and windows is always fighting for control, then turn off Wireless Zero Config. Turn off things like telenet, windows messenger, etc. Turn off themes if you want a bigger performance boost, but be warned that everything is ugly without them.
However: BE CAREFUL with what you turn off! Make sure you keep track of which ones you're turning off, because they can sometimes have unexpected consequences. Make sure you know what to turn back on, if you make a mistake ;-)
3)I've found the handiest Windows secret to be changing the priority of tasks on the fly. If you have an application that hogs the CPU for an extended period of time (such as 3D rendering) but still wish to work without delay in other programs, give this a try...
1. Press CTRL-ALT-Del2. Click the Processes tab3. Right-click on the hog process (easy to find by looking at the associated CPU % display)4. Choose the Set Priority menu5. Bump the priority down to "BelowNormal"
Now Windows will give more CPU to other tasks you start, while using whatever's left for the (former) hog process. This will obviously slow down the hog process somewhat but not terribly so since it will get full access to the CPU during any idle time.
To return priority to the original task, just set it back to Normal. For an extra boost you could even set it to AboveNormal.
You'll get a popup advising you that this may cause instability in some applications but I've never had a problem. I wouldn't advise doing this to a task like CD/DVD burning but for most anything else it's great.

My Windows Shortcuts

1)Three-Key Shutdown: If you want to shutdown Windows really quickly without even moving your mouse, here's a simple tip.
Press the Windows key, "U" and then "U" once more. All that does is pull up the Start Menu, selects "Turn Off Computer", and then selects "Turn Off" from the following menu.
This has helped me a bunch of times when I've needed to shut my laptop down in a jiffy and run off.
(Not my best tip, but I'm still thinking...)
2)Execute full commands directly from the Run box with /k, like "cmd /k ipconfig"
3)Lock Computer Instantly
WinKey+L will lock your computer instantly.
You can also make a button to lock your computer! You can place it anywhere -- how bout the QuickLaunch menu.
Create a shortcut on your Desktop. Make the path:
rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
Name it Lock. Drag it to the QuickLaunch menu or leave it. This will lock your machine if you choose to skip the previously mentioned WINDOWS KEY + L.
4)I use this one a lot:
If you SHIFT+Right Click on a shortcut or program, you'll see the "Run As..." option that lets you run the program as another user, such as a user with administrative rights. It becomes even more useful when you run Internet Explorer as an admin user, since typing in a file path in the address bar(C:\ or \\server\share) turns IE into a Windows Explorer window. You can even get to the Control Panel from IE. Very useful for installing/uninstalling software as an administrator while a regular user is logged in.

Great Windows Tips

Since I'm just getting used to using Windows again, here's another tip that I like. If you have a directory that you use all of the time, then:
1) create a shortcut to that directory
2) then rightclick on the shortcut
3) go to properties and set a shortcut key.
So, for example, when I type "crl-alt-b" it brings up the directory c:/cygwin/home/bcaffo for me. This is really useful.
Also, if you use putty as your ssh client. Then, save a session to the places you go to. For example I saved a session called "enigma" which goes to the biostat big computer. Then
1) create a shortcut to putty.exe
2) right click on the shortcut and click on properties
3) edit the target so that it loads the session, for example I have"C:\Program Files\PuTTY\putty.exe" -load "enigma"
4) create a shortcut key
So, for example, now whenever I type "ctrl-alt-e" it brings up a putty window on enigma. (Make sure that you have passwordless logins set up).

Make Your Own Windows Toolbar:

Create a new folder on your hard drive (easiest to find if it's on the desktop) and name it something like "My Toolbar." Right click on the start button, and click on Open. Go to the Programs group (folder). Open your "My Toolbar" folder into a second Explorer window. You should now have two-- one with Programs, and one, empty, "My Toolbar." Find the program group (say, Games) that you want the toolbar for, and copy all the shortcuts into your empty "My Toolbar" folder. Right-click on the taskbar, and choose New, Toolbar.

When the Explorer window comes up, point to your "My Toolbar" folder. Now you have a new toolbar. Customize it! Drag your toolbar to the desktop (top, side, wherever you want it). Resize it 'till you can only see the icons in the folder. Right-click on the sizing handle once your toolbar is in place. Uncheck "Show Text" and "Show Title." I have found this very handy, and have toolbars on every side of my screen parked with icons, so I can launch anything right from there." You now have a toolbar with shortcuts to your favorite games, without stray icons all over the place to drive you crazy.

Win Tip: Faster Startup:

Eliminate programs from the startup process. Programs put icons directly into the startup folder. So that they automatically launch every time Windows boots. Try moving these icons to a NoStartup folder that you can make. Sometimes you can even do it by right-clicking on the icon in the system tray. Make them stop loading. Launch Start/Run and type in MSConfig. Click the startup tab and you'll see a checkbox list of all the applications that start with Windows. Uncheck the box next to the program you don't want to start.

Stop Windows from checks for a floppy every time it boots. Open up System in the Control Panel. Click on the Performance tab, then the File System button, then Floppy Disk. Uncheck the box next to "Search for new floppy disk drives each time your computer starts." Stop memory count on boot up will save you time. Go to your BIOS and uncheck this feature. Setting your system to boot from the C drive first will save you boot time. That way your system doesn't check for a bootable floppy or CD-ROM. Try turning on "quick start," or "quick boot," look for it in your BIOS setting and turn it on.

PC Locks Up Before Windows Loads: WATCH FOR CLUES Tip.

Before Windows starts, your PC performs an initialization process for many of its components. As it does so, on-screen messages either confirm the devices' proper initialization or report errors. So watch for clues as your PC boots up; you may be able to identify a troublesome component. If a message flashes on and off the screen too quickly to read, you can freeze the screen with the Pause key. RESEAT EXPANSION CARDS. System lockups that occur before Windows' launch can be caused by poorly seated expansion cards. Reseat all cards following the instructions given above.

Resolving Hardware Conflicts Tips!

Hardware conflicts is when two devices try to use the same resource, such as an IRQ or memory address. The telltale signs of a conflict is either a particular device not working, or your system hanging or crashing every time you try to use a specific device. You tell your devices which resources to use by setting jumpers or switches on the device itself; newer devices allow you to change these settings with software (drivers). Many new devices are now Plug-&-Play (PnP), meaning that they adjust these settings automatically to avoid conflicts. The more PnP devices you have, the less likely you are to experience a conflict. So, what remains is trying to resolve conflicts between non-PnP (Legacy) devices; here is a general attack strategy for this type of problem:


1.) Open the Device Manager, select System from the top of the list, and click Properties. Windows 98 tries to list all your resources, and which ones are being used by which devices.

2.) From here, you should be able to determine if there is a conflict, and which devices are causing it. Now, it's only a matter of reconfiguring one or more of the devices so that the conflict is eliminated (refer to the specific device's manual for information on changing its settings). If you can't find the cause of the problem here, continue to step 3.

3.) Remove or disconnect all unnecessary devices (sound cards, CD-ROMs) from your computer, except for the one that isn't working (if applicable). If the device still doesn't work, either it's broken, it's a driver problem (see below), or the conflict is with a key piece of hardware (such as the motherboard or video card).

4.) Now if the problem seems to have been fixed, start adding devices one-by-one, until the problem reappears. You've now isolated the culprit, and it's now only a matter of reconfiguring that device so that the conflict is eliminated (refer to the specific device's manual for information on changing its settings).

5.) Note that old drivers can cause problems too.