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Contents Listing

Credits



Preface



Chapter 1. Startup and Shutdown

1. Customize Multiboot Startup Options

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

3. Speed Up Boot and Shutdown Times

4. Halt Startup Programs and Services

5. Create Multiple Startup Profiles with Advanced Startup Manager

6. Miscellaneous Startup and Shutdown Hacks

7. Control User Logins by Hacking the Registry



Chapter 2. The User Interface

8. Customize the GUI with TweakUI

9. Control the Control Panel

10. Hack the Start Menu and Taskbar

11. Clean Up the Most Frequently Used Programs List

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

13. Remove "Unremovable" Desktop Icons

14. Create Your Own XP Themes and Find Thousands Online

15. Give XP a Makeover with WindowBlinds

16. Hacking Your Way Through the Interface

17. Remove "Uninstallable" XP Utilities

18. Create Transparent Windows

19. Make Your Own Cursors and Icons

20. Windows XP to Windows 2000: Retro is Cool



Chapter 3. Windows Explorer

21. Generating Folder and File Listings for Printing or Editing

22. Control Windows Explorer with Command-Line Shortcuts

23. Empower Windows Explorer with PowerDesk

24. Better File Rename

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

26. Hiding Folders and Files with the Encrypting File System

27. Forcing Windows Explorer Into True Usefulness

28. Customize Folder Icons and Balloon Text

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

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

31. Get More Hard Disk Space by Using NTFS Compression

32. Put a Command-Line Prompt on Your Desktop



Chapter 4. The Web

33. Stop Pop Ups, Spyware, and Web Bugs

34. Take a Bite Out of Cookies

35. Read Web Pages Offline

36. Better Internet Searching from Your Desktop

37. Hack Internet Explorer with the Group Policy Editor

38. Speed Up File Downloads

39. Surf Anonymously Without a Trace

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

41. Run Java Applets Without Crashes or Problems



Chapter 5. Networking

42. War Driving for WiFi Access

43. Test Your Security with Shields Up!

44. Tweak DNS Settings for Faster Internet Access

45. Fix Windows Media Player's Privacy Problems

46. Protect Your Computer with the Internet Connection Firewall

47. Use a Proxy Server to Protect Your PC

48. ZoneAlarm: The World's Best Free Firewall

49. Optimize Your Residential Gateway

50. Punch an Escape Hole Through Your Firewall

51. Close Down Open Ports and Block Protocols

52. Troubleshooting Network Connections with ping, tracert, and pathping

53. Troubleshooting Network Connections with netsh, netstat, and ipconfig

54. Speed Up Network Browsing

55. Extend the Range of Your Wireless Network

56. Install NetBEUI for Better Peer-to-Peer Networking

57. Check WiFi Network Performance with QCheck to Help Improve Throughput

58. Control Another PC with Remote Access

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

60. Renewing Your DHCP-Assigned IP Address

61. Repair a Broken TCP/IP Connection

62. Set Up a Virtual Private Network



Chapter 6. Email

63. Slam That Spam

64. Open Blocked File Attachments in Outlook and Outlook Express

65. Back Up and Restore Outlook and Outlook Express Data Files

66. Fire Outlook and Outlook Express

67. Retrieve Web-Based Email with Your Email Software



Chapter 7. The Registry

68. Don't Fear the Registry

69. Hacking Away at the Registry

70. Safely Edit the Registry Using .reg Files

71. Better Registry Backups

72. Track and Restore Registry Changes with RegSpy



Chapter 8. Basic Utilities

73. Store Multiple Clips and Boilerplate Text with a Better Clipboard

74. Speed Up Your Hard Disk by Improving Defragging

75. Build a Better Backup Strategy

76. Extending Your Screen Real Estate with Virtual Desktops

77. Top Screenshot Tips

78. Going Beyond Messaging with Windows Messenger

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



Chapter 9. Applications

80. Remove Unruly Applications and Uninstall Entries

81. Force XP-Incompatible Applications to Run

82. Force Older Programs to Use XP Common Controls

83. Launch Applications with Command-Line Shortcuts

84. Open and Create Microsoft Documents without Microsoft Office

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



Chapter 10. Graphics and Multimedia

86. Image Conversion in a Pinch

87. Problem-Free CD Burning

88. Save Streaming Music to Your PC

89. File Sharing without the Spyware

90. Tips for Making Videos with Windows Movie Maker



Chapter 11. System Performance

91. Track System Performance with the Performance Console

92. Getting the Most Out of Your RAM

93. More Power: Registry Hacks to Speed Up XP

94. Repair and Recovery with the Recovery Console



Chapter 12. Hardware

95. Troubleshoot Hardware by Decoding Device Manager Error Messages

96. Uncover Hidden Hardware with the Device Manager

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

98. Remap Your Keyboard

99. Use ClearType for Better Laptop and LCD Resolution

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



Index