How to make XP into 2k?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:30 pm

Yup, MSN Messenger. Use the link ego posted. Works like a charm.

If you want to keep Messenger for some stupid reason then just open it, bring down the preferences menu (Tools menu dropdown I think) and uncheck "Load with windows" and "Allow MSN Messenger to run in the background".

I'd nuke it though if you don't need it - it's a parasite and slows down Outlook Express opening because OE always tries to run MSN when you open it.

You'll also want to decide if you want to disable System Restore. Frankly, on a modern system it's no major resource hog, just set the amout of drive space it uses to no more than 1 or 2 Gb. Anything more is a waste. 1Gb works fine.

System Restore is damn handy when you install a bad driver or something else that trashes your system. I always make a restore point before installing ANY hardware or software (Windows will create a restore point before installing most drivers, but I like to play safe).

HOWEVER if, like me, you segregate your drive into a lot of partitions, you do NOT need System Restore monitoring all your partitions. I only have it monitor my Boot partition. Everything else I turn off).

Right click My Computer, Properties, System Restore tab.

You may also want to disable the Indexing service if your drives are formatted NTFS. Same issues as with Win2K, no need to run indexing unless you do a LOT of intense file searches - specifically searching for text strings within files. Most people don't. Heck I do (searching for text strings in web pages I'm working on) but I never need to search the whole drive so there's no speed gain to be had by using indexing, and having it enabled gives you a performance hit since your system is creating large file indexes in the background all the time.

Some people recommend just turnign off the indexing service, but that leaves some huge indexing files scattered throughout your drives.

Here's the RIGHT WAY to disable indexing:

In Windows XP Computer Management window expand the following:

Services and Applications > Indexing Service > System > Directories

and make sure all directories listed show No for the Include in Catalog. If not, double-click on the directory or directories and select No to Include in Index.

Double-click on My Computer, right-click on the C: drive and click Properties, unselect Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching. Click Apply.

In the Confirm Attribute Changes window select Apply changes to C:\, subfolders and files and click OK to continue.

When complete, close the C: Properties window.

Repeat for any other drives other than C:

No need to disable the Indexing Service - if you follow the above instructions XP turns it off automatically since it's not being used.

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 8:58 am

ok, network neighborhood. how do I make it 2kish? I dont like it how it is.

Greg

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:25 am

Change the look: View->Arrange Icons By->Uncheck Show in Groups.

I've never gotten into tweaking this anymore than this. Try some Google searches and look on TweakXP.com

I know you can disable the feature that automatically adds shortcuts to shared resources, and automatically discovers shared printers. Don't remember how.

Busby · Post by **Busby** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 10:25 am

Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc

Has a lot of good things you can turn on and off. TweakUI does some of em but this is not registry stuff.

If you find out how to do Network Neighborhood into 2k let me know please

VidmanII · Post by **VidmanII** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:42 pm

Damn, the world must be going to h3LL in a handbasket.....

Nexus_7 is using an Abit mobo and XP!! :laugh

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:13 pm

Originally posted by VidmanII
Damn, the world must be going to h3LL in a handbasket.....

Nexus_7 is using an Abit mobo and XP!! :laugh

LOL. Don't you need some capacitors replaced on that mobo?

VidmanII · Post by **VidmanII** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:24 pm

Actually I suggested he give one a try. An NF7-S that is. Other than a few a quirky layout issues, it's one of, if not the best, nforce2 mobos out there. Especially if you're using SATA HDDs ( He is, I'm not, hence the DFI LPNF2U in my box ).

Try one, you'll like it.

:

Just my humble opinion of course.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 7:46 pm

Another tip for you Nexus... here's a way to disable the balloon pop-ups (like the network cable disconnected balloon messages, or hardware has just been installed messages). I don't mind them but some people hate 'em:

A surprising number of folks love the sugary new Windows XP interface, with it's colorful windows and menus. One of these features that's new to XP is the pop-up balloons to let you know that a tour, or hotfix, or network connection (etc.) is available. If you find these simply annoying, you can add the following Registry entry to kill them off for good.

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Name: EnableBalloonTips
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0

If you later decide that you want the balloons back, you can delete the entry, or set its value to 1. As always, please use caution and frequent backups when editing the Registry.

NetScribe · Post by **NetScribe** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 8:40 am

[quote]Originally posted by FlyingPenguin
I carry a copy of this in my laptop for customers who want the classic Windows look, although I can do most of this from memory now...

- CLASSIC WINDOWS START MENU

<snip>

[font=arial]

THANK YOU! That stupid search dog was getting on my nerves ...

One of my co-workers thanks you too .... (grin) ...

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:17 pm

WELCOME ABOARD ANDREW! Good to see you here.

Yeah, that goofy candy-ass XP file search engine is the FIRST THING to go whenever I install XP on a system. Even people who are computer noobs can't stand it.