What? FBI secret tools? Neh… nope!

Just some interesting download here to spice up you Windows XP login screen.

Replace your stock, vanilla plain login screen with this FBI Terminal login screen. You might give your father a shock!

Download: FBI Terminal Windows XP Login Screen

Enjoy!

Want to have Ubuntu feel with Windows XP? This pack is definitely for you if you answered, “YES, I do!” If not, this is a ‘starting move’ for you to get familiarize with Ubuntu (I’m a real Ubuntu user as well).

Well, this Ubuntu Ultimate Customization by deviantART’s bluetekk is by far the best Linux/Ubuntu customization available for Windows XP.

This ~20MB pack contains the customization styles needed like cursors, boot screen, logon screen, screen saver and other utilities to transform your Windows XP into Ubuntu.

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Keeping some confidential files private means a lot to me. I can do this easily with several folder and file locking software and tools available out there in the Internet but with a price to pay.

So, here is an equally easy alternative, without any cost to bear – no software no tools! What you need is just a Notepad.

OK, here is how to setup a locking and hidden upon locked folder.

1. Copy and paste the code listed below in blue (between Start copy and End copy) in Notepad.
2. Change the “yourpasswordhere” with your own password.
3. Save it as a batch file (with extension .bat), any name will do.
4. Now you see a batch file. Double click to run the batch file to create a new folder named Locker by default. You can change the folder name by changing the line “md Locker” to “md yourfoldername”.
5. Now, you can put all your files that you want to lock and hide want to hide into this Locker folder.
6. To lock it, double click the batch file. Double click the batch file again will unlock it, prompting you for the password.

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The Release Candidate 1 of Windows XP latest service pack, Windows XP Service Pack 3 is now available for download for MSDN members. (Check download link below).

SP3 includes a ton of security updates, some Vista code, and a couple of brand spanking new features for Windows XP:

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If you have important files that are stored in a particular disk drive (disk partition) that you don’t want to expose it, you can hide it! Windows XP provides a utility to just that. Here is how it goes:

1. Go to Start > Run > Type “diskpart”
2. A dos window will appear (see below). Then type “list volume“.
3. So, if you want to hide drive C, then type “select volume 2“
4. Now type “remove letter C” (Note: Sometime it requires reboot.)

Diskpart will remove the letter. Windows XP is not having capabilty to identify the unkown volume.

Don’t worry, your data will remains the same. Now if you want to unhide the drive, just repeat the process. But in 4th step, instead of typing ”remove letter C”, type “assign letter C”

99 Commands the Windows XP Command prompt can run.

Here is a list of commands that you can run off from the Run Command prompt in XP:

Go to Start Menu > Run… and type in the command to run.

Application = Command

1. Accessibility Controls = access.cpl
2. Add Hardware Wizard = hdwwiz.cpl
3. Add/Remove Programs = appwiz.cpl
4. Administrative Tools = control admintools
5. Automatic Updates = wuaucpl.cpl
6. Bluetooth Transfer Wizard = fsquirt
7. Calculator = calc
8. Certificate Manager = certmgr.msc
9. Character Map = charmap
10. Check Disk Utility = chkdsk
11. Clipboard Viewer = clipbrd
12. Command Prompt = cmd
13. Component Services = dcomcnfg
14. Computer Management = compmgmt.msc
15. Date and Time Properties = timedate.cpl
16. DDE Shares = ddeshare
17. Device Manager = devmgmt.msc
18. Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)* = directx.cpl
19. Direct X Troubleshooter = dxdiag
20. Disk Cleanup Utility = cleanmgr
21. Disk Defragment = dfrg.msc
22. Disk Management = diskmgmt.msc
23. Disk Partition Manager = diskpart
24. Display Properties = control desktop/desk.cpl
25. Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility = drwtsn32
26. Driver Verifier Utility = verifier
27. Event Viewer = eventvwr.msc
28. File Signature Verification Tool = sigverif
29. Findfast = findfast.cpl
30. Folders Properties = control folders
31. Fonts = control fonts
32. Fonts Folder = fonts
33. Free Cell Card Game = freecell
34. Game Controllers = joy.cpl
35. Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) = gpedit.msc
36. Hearts Card Game = mshearts
37. Iexpress Wizard = iexpress
38. Indexing Service = ciadv.msc
39. Internet Properties = inetcpl.cpl
40. IP Configuration = ipconfig
41. Java Control Panel (If Installed) = jpicpl32.cpl
42. Java Application Cache Viewer (If Installed) = javaws
43. Keyboard Properties = control keyboard
44. Local Security Settings = secpol.msc
45. Local Users and Groups = lusrmgr.msc
46. Logs You Out Of Windows = logoff
47. Microsoft Chat = winchat
48. Minesweeper Game = winmine
49. Mouse Properties = control mouse
50. Mouse Properties = main.cpl
51. Network Connections = control netconnections
52. Network Connections = ncpa.cpl
53. Network Setup Wizard = netsetup.cpl
54. Notepad = notepad
55. Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed) = nvtuicpl.cpl
56. Object Packager = packager
57. ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbccp32.cpl
58. On Screen Keyboard = osk
59. Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed) = ac3filter.cpl
60. Password Properties = password.cpl
61. Performance Monitor = perfmon.msc
62. Performance Monitor = perfmon
63. Phone and Modem Options = telephon.cpl
64. Power Configuration = powercfg.cpl
65. Printers and Faxes = control printers
66. Printers Folder = printers
67. Private Character Editor = eudcedit
68. Quicktime (If Installed) = QuickTime.cpl
69. Regional Settings = intl.cpl
70. Registry Editor = regedit
71. Registry Editor = regedit32
72. Remote Desktop = mstsc
73. Removable Storage = ntmsmgr.msc
74. Removable Storage Operator Requests = ntmsoprq.msc
75. Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) = rsop.msc
76. Scanners and Cameras = sticpl.cpl
77. Scheduled Tasks = control schedtasks
78. Security Center = wscui.cpl
79. Services = services.msc
80. Shared Folders = fsmgmt.msc
81. Shuts Down Windows = shutdown
82. Sounds and Audio = mmsys.cpl
83. Spider Solitare Card Game = spider
84. SQL Client Configuration = cliconfg
85. System Configuration Editor = sysedit
86. System Configuration Utility = msconfig
87. System File Checker Utility = sfc
88. System Properties = sysdm.cpl
89. Task Manager = taskmgr
90. Telnet Client = telnet
91. User Account Management = nusrmgr.cpl
92. Utility Manager = utilman
93. Windows Firewall = firewall.cpl
94. Windows Magnifier = magnify
95. Windows Management Infrastructure = wmimgmt.msc
96. Windows System Security Tool = syskey
97. Windows Update Launches = wupdmgr
98. Windows XP Tour Wizard = tourstart
99. Wordpad = write

OK, for those who wish NOT to download and install Windows XP security patches via Windows Automatic Updates, there is an alternative way. Here is how:

• Turn of the Automatic Updates option.
• Go to http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/ and get the latest Windows updates(for security and critical updates only).
• Download, install and restart. That’s all!

Windows XP “Hidden Application” Enabler – Version 2

The job of this application is a very simple and effective one. To enable the hidden applications and utilities inside Windows XP and make them available on the Start Menu for easy accessiblity.

43 utilities have been unlocked in this new version of this simple utility.

List of applications revealed:

Version 1 unlocked the following 25 utilities:

• Configuration Utility
• Object Packager
• Task Manager
• Windows Migration Manager
• Synchronization Manager
• Remote Desktop Connection
• Text to Speach Narrator
• Windows Address Book
• Address Book Migrator
• Windows Version
• Character Map
• Disk Cleanup Utility
• Clipboard Viewer
• Dr. Watson diagnosis
• Direct X diagnosis
• Private Character Editor
• Express Install Wizard
• Data Source Admin
• System Monitor
• Registry Editor
• Network Sharing Wizard
• Siganture Verification Tool
• System Configuration Editor
• Telnet Client
• Windows Network Chat

NEW! Version 2 unlocked a further 18 utilities:

• Windows Management Infrastructure
• Windows Services
• Windows Local Security Settings
• Resultant Set of Policy
• Performance Monitoring
• Removable Storage Operator Requests
• Removable Storage Management
• Local User and Group Manager
• Group Policy Object Editor
• Shared Folder Manager
• Event Viewer
• Disk Management
• Disk Defragmenter
• Device Manager
• Computer Management
• Indexing Services
• Certificates
• Component Services

Download: XP Addons Unlocker v2

Since defragging the disk won”t do much to improve Windows XP performance, here are 23 suggestions that will. Each can enhance the performance and reliability of your customers” PCs. Best of all, most of them will cost you nothing.
 
1. To decrease a system’s boot time and increase system performance, use the money you save by not buying defragmentation software — the built-in Windows defragmenter works just fine — and instead equip the computer with an Ultra-133 or Serial ATA hard drive with 8-MB cache buffer.
 
2. If a PC has less than 512 MB of RAM, add more memory. This is a relatively inexpensive and easy upgrade that can dramatically improve system performance.
 
3. Ensure that Windows XP is utilizing the NTFS file system. If you’re not sure, here’s how to check: First, double-click the My Computer icon, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Next, examine the File System type; if it says FAT32, then back-up any important data. Next, click Start, click Run, type CMD, and then click OK. At the prompt, type CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter key. This process may take a while; it’s important that the computer be uninterrupted and virus-free. The file system used by the bootable drive will be either FAT32 or NTFS. I highly recommend NTFS for its superior security, reliability, and efficiency with larger disk drives.

4. Disable file indexing. The indexing service extracts information from documents and other files on the hard drive and creates a “searchable keyword index.” As you can imagine, this process can be quite taxing on any system.
 
The idea is that the user can search for a word, phrase, or property inside a document, should they have hundreds or thousands of documents and not know the file name of the document they want. Windows XP’s built-in search functionality can still perform these kinds of searches without the Indexing service. It just takes longer. The OS has to open each file at the time of the request to help find what the user is looking for.
 
Most people never need this feature of search. Those who do are typically in a large corporate environment where thousands of documents are located on at least one server. But if you’re a typical system builder, most of your clients are small and medium businesses. And if your clients have no need for this search feature, I recommend disabling it.
 
Here’s how: First, double-click the My Computer icon. Next, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Uncheck “Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching.” Next, apply changes to “C: subfolders and files,” and click OK. If a warning or error message appears (such as “Access is denied”), click the Ignore All button.
 
5. Update the PC’s video and motherboard chipset drivers. Also, update and configure the BIOS. For more information on how to configure your BIOS properly, see this article on my site.
 
6. Empty the Windows Prefetch folder every three months or so. Windows XP can “prefetch” portions of data and applications that are used frequently. This makes processes appear to load faster when called upon by the user. That’s fine. But over time, the prefetch folder may become overloaded with references to files and applications no longer in use. When that happens, Windows XP is wasting time, and slowing system performance, by pre-loading them. Nothing critical is in this folder, and the entire contents are safe to delete.
 
7. Once a month, run a disk cleanup. Here’s how: Double-click the My Computer icon. Then right-click on the C: drive and select Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button — it’s just to the right of the Capacity pie graph — and delete all temporary files.
 
8. In your Device Manager, double-click on the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers device, and ensure that DMA is enabled for each drive you have connected to the Primary and Secondary controller. Do this by double-clicking on Primary IDE Channel. Then click the Advanced Settings tab. Ensure the Transfer Mode is set to “DMA if available” for both Device 0 and Device 1. Then repeat this process with the Secondary IDE Channel.
 
9. Upgrade the cabling. As hard-drive technology improves, the cabling requirements to achieve these performance boosts have become more stringent. Be sure to use 80-wire Ultra-133 cables on all of your IDE devices with the connectors properly assigned to the matching Master/Slave/Motherboard sockets. A single device must be at the end of the cable; connecting a single drive to the middle connector on a ribbon cable will cause signaling problems. With Ultra DMA hard drives, these signaling problems will prevent the drive from performing at its maximum potential. Also, because these cables inherently support “cable select,” the location of each drive on the cable is important. For these reasons, the cable is designed so drive positioning is explicitly clear.
 
10. Remove all spyware from the computer. Use free programs such as AdAware by Lavasoft or SpyBot Search & Destroy. Once these programs are installed, be sure to check for and download any updates before starting your search. Anything either program finds can be safely removed. Any free software that requires spyware to run will no longer function once the spyware portion has been removed; if your customer really wants the program even though it contains spyware, simply reinstall it. For more information on removing Spyware visit this Web Pro News page.
 

11. Remove any unnecessary programs and/or items from Windows Startup routine using the MSCONFIG utility. Here’s how: First, click Start, click Run, type MSCONFIG, and click OK. Click the StartUp tab, then uncheck any items you don’t want to start when Windows starts. Unsure what some items are? Visit the WinTasks Process Library. It contains known system processes, applications, as well as spyware references and explanations. Or quickly identify them by searching for the filenames using Google or another Web search engine.
 
12. Remove any unnecessary or unused programs from the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel.
 
13. Turn off any and all unnecessary animations, and disable active desktop. In fact, for optimal performance, turn off all animations. Windows XP offers many different settings in this area. Here’s how to do it: First click on the System icon in the Control Panel. Next, click on the Advanced tab. Select the Settings button located under Performance. Feel free to play around with the options offered here, as nothing you can change will alter the reliability of the computer — only its responsiveness.
 
14. If your customer is an advanced user who is comfortable editing their registry, try some of the performance registry tweaks offered at Tweak XP.
 
15. Visit mcft’s Windows update site regularly, and download all updates labeled Critical. Download any optional updates at your discretion.
 
16. Update the customer’s anti-virus software on a weekly, even daily, basis. Make sure they have only one anti-virus software package installed. Mixing anti-virus software is a sure way to spell disaster for performance and reliability.
 
17. Make sure the customer has fewer than 500 type fonts installed on their computer. The more fonts they have, the slower the system will become. While Windows XP handles fonts much more efficiently than did the previous versions of Windows, too many fonts — that is, anything over 500 — will noticeably tax the system.
 
18. Do not partition the hard drive. Windows XP’s NTFS file system runs more efficiently on one large partition. The data is no safer on a separate partition, and a reformat is never necessary to reinstall an operating system. The same excuses people offer for using partitions apply to using a folder instead. For example, instead of putting all your data on the D: drive, put it in a folder called “D drive.” You’ll achieve the same organizational benefits that a separate partition offers, but without the degradation in system performance. Also, your free space won’t be limited by the size of the partition; instead, it will be limited by the size of the entire hard drive. This means you won’t need to resize any partitions, ever. That task can be time-consuming and also can result in lost data.
 
19. Check the system’s RAM to ensure it is operating properly. I recommend using a free program called MemTest86. The download will make a bootable CD or diskette (your choice), which will run 10 extensive tests on the PC’s memory automatically after you boot to the disk you created. Allow all tests to run until at least three passes of the 10 tests are completed. If the program encounters any errors, turn off and unplug the computer, remove a stick of memory (assuming you have more than o
ne), and run the test again. Remember, bad memory cannot be repaired, but only replaced.
 
20. If the PC has a CD or DVD recorder, check the drive manufacturer’s Web site for updated firmware. In some cases you’ll be able to upgrade the recorder to a faster speed. Best of all, it’s free.
 
21. Disable unnecessary services. Windows XP loads a lot of services that your customer most likely does not need. To determine which services you can disable for your client, visit the Black Viper site for Windows XP configurations.
 
22. If you’re sick of a single Windows Explorer window crashing and then taking the rest of your OS down with it, then follow this tip: open My Computer, click on Tools, then Folder Options. Now click on the View tab. Scroll down to “Launch folder windows in a separate process,” and enable this option. You’ll have to reboot your machine for this option to take effect.
 
23. At least once a year, open the computer’s cases and blow out all the dust and debris. While you’re in there, check that all the fans are turning properly. Also inspect the motherboard capacitors for bulging or leaks.

Via: TechBuilder