Windows Tips and Tricks by Pravin Sharma Part 1

Tip 1: Controlling the Desktop Cleanup Wizard
By default in Windows XP, the Desktop Cleanup Wizard will pop up every 60 days to cleanup your desktop.
To stop this:
1. Right click on the desktop.
2. Select Properties.
3. Click on the Desktop tab.
4. Click on the Customize Desktop button.
5. Uncheck Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard.
Tip 2: Getting Rid of Unread Email Messages.
To remove the Unread Email message by user's login names:
1. Start Regedit.
2. For a single user: Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Win dows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail
3. For all users: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wi ndows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail
4. Create a DWORD key called MessageExpiryDays
5. Give it a value of 0
Tip 3: Renaming Multiple Files in a Directory:
1. Using the Windows Explorer, select all the files you want to rename.
2. Press F2 or right click and select Rename.
3. Enter the prefix for the name you want (e.g. Newname).
4. This will automatically rename the rest of the files Newname (1).jpg, Newname (2).jpg etc.
5. Make sure you include the extension if you have the Explorer configured to show them.
Tip 4: One way to run a chkdsk (this is like Scandisk that was withWin9X), is to
1. Double click on My Computer.
2. Right click on the drive you want to check.
3. Select Properties.
4. Click on the Tools tab.
5. Click on the Check Now button.
6. Check to Automatically fix file system errors - This is the same as running chkdsk /f.
7. If you want to Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors, check that box - This is the same as running
chkdsk /R. It can also add a lot of time to the scan.
8. Reboot if necessary
You can also run chkdsk from the command line with will give you more options.
The following switches are available:
/F - fix any errors
/R - identifies bad sectors
/V - with FAT32, displays a verbose output
With NTFS Volumes:
/I - Performs simpler check (stage 2)
/C - Skips the checking of cycles within folder structures
Tip 4: Creating a Shutdown/Reboot Icon
WindowsXP has a program called SHUTDOWN.EXE which allows you to easily create icons to shutdown or
restart your computer.
To create a shutdown shortcut on the desktop:
1. Right click on an open area of the desktop.
2. Select New / Shortcut.
3. Enter in "shutdown -s -t 00" - no quotes
4. Press the Next button.
5. For the name, enter in anything you like. I just use shutdown. Click on the Finish button.
For a reboot, enter "shutdown -r -t 00"
Shutdown [{-l|-s|-r|-a}] [-f] [-m [\\ComputerName]] [-t xx] [-c "message"] [-d[u][p]x:yy]
Parameters
-l - Logs off the current user, this is also the defualt. -m ComputerName takes precedence.
-s - Shuts down the local computer.
-r - Reboots after shutdown.
-a - Aborts shutdown. Ignores other parameters, except -l and ComputerName. You can only use -a during
the time-out period.
-f - Forces running applications to close.
-m [\\ComputerName] - Specifies the computer that you want to shut down.
-t xx - Sets the timer for system shutdown in xx seconds. The default is 20 seconds.
-c "message" - Specifies a message to be displayed in the Message area of the System Shutdown window.
You can use a maximum of 127 characters. You must enclose the message in quotation marksWindowsXP has a program called SHUTDOWN.EXE which allows you to easily create icons to shutdown or
restart your computer.
To create a shutdown shortcut on the desktop:
1. Right click on an open area of the desktop.
2. Select New / Shortcut.
3. Enter in "shutdown -s -t 00" - no quotes.
4. Press the Next button.
5. For the name, enter in anything you like. I just use shutdown. Click on the Finish button.
For a reboot, enter "shutdown -r -t 00"
Shutdown [{-l|-s|-r|-a}] [-f] [-m [\\ComputerName]] [-t xx] [-c "message"] [-d[u][p]x:yy]
Parameters
-l - Logs off the current user, this is also the defualt. -m ComputerName takes precedence.
-s - Shuts down the local computer.
-r - Reboots after shutdown.
-a - Aborts shutdown. Ignores other parameters, except -l and ComputerName. You can only use -a during
the time-out period.
-f - Forces running applications to close.
-m [\\ComputerName] - Specifies the computer that you want to shut down.
-t xx - Sets the timer for system shutdown in xx seconds. The default is 20 seconds.
-c "message" - Specifies a message to be displayed in the Message area of the System Shutdown window.
You can use a maximum of 127 characters. You must enclose the message in quotation marks.
Tip 5: Using the System File Checker
You can run the System File Checker to verify protected system files.
Command line switches are:
sfc [/scannow] [/scanonce] [/scanboot] [/revert] [/purgecache] [/cachesize=x]
/scannow - Scans all protected system files immediately.
/scanonce - Scans all protected system files once.
/scanboot - Scans all protected system files every time the computer is restarted.
/revert - Returns the scan to its default operation.
/purgecache - Purges the Windows File Protection file cache and scans all protected system files
immediately.
/cachesize=x - Sets the size, inMB, of the Windows File Protection file cache.