Windows XP Pocket Reference

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This pocket reference is intended to provide the information Windows XP users need most often in a quick and concise format. This tiny volume is small enough to fit in your pocket or laptop case, yet is packed with hundreds of tips, shortcuts, and other tidbits of information that will make Windows XP easier to use.

Enjoy quick access to keyboard and mouse shortcuts (Chapter 2), summaries of all the programs and games included in Windows XP (Chapter 3), and a 700-entry setting locator (Chapter 4). More experienced users will appreciate the most commonly used Registry tweaks (Chapter 5), documentation on all command prompt commands (Chapter 6), and a security checklist (Chapter 7) to help protect your computer.

For less-experienced Windows XP users, a brief crash course is included at the end of this chapter. If you're a hands-on learner, you should be able to pick up any of the concepts discussed here in no time at all. Anyone wishing to learn more will benefit from the additional background and details provided by full-size books such as Windows XP in a Nutshell, Windows XP Annoyances, and Windows Power Tools, also available from O'Reilly.

The following typographical conventions are used in this book:

Constant width: Used to indicate anything to be typed, as well as command-line computer output, code examples, Registry keys, and keyboard accelerators (discussed below).
Constant width italic: Used to indicate variables in examples and so-called "replaceable" text. For instance, to open a document in Notepad from the command line, you'd type notepad filename, where filename is the full path and name of the document you wish to open.
[Square brackets]: Square brackets around an option (usually a command-line parameter) mean that the parameter is optional. Parameters and keywords not shown in square brackets are typically mandatory. If you see two or more options separated by the | character, it means that they are mutually exclusive; only one or the other can be specified, but not both.

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The following typographical conventions are used in this book:

Constant width: Used to indicate anything to be typed, as well as command-line computer output, code examples, Registry keys, and keyboard accelerators (discussed below).
Constant width italic: Used to indicate variables in examples and so-called "replaceable" text. For instance, to open a document in Notepad from the command line, you'd type notepad filename, where filename is the full path and name of the document you wish to open.
[Square brackets]: Square brackets around an option (usually a command-line parameter) mean that the parameter is optional. Parameters and keywords not shown in square brackets are typically mandatory. If you see two or more options separated by the | character, it means that they are mutually exclusive; only one or the other can be specified, but not both.
Italic: Used to introduce new terms and to indicate URLs, variables in text, file and folder/directory names, and UNC pathnames.

Rather than using procedural steps to tell you how to reach a given Windows XP user interface element or application, we use a shorthand path notation. For example:

Start → Programs → Accessories → Calculator

means "Open the Start menu (on the Desktop), then choose Programs, then choose Accessories, and then click Calculator." The path is always relative to a well-known location, such as the following:

Control Panel: Start → Control Panel (in the Windows XP-style Start Menu)

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Windows XP, although technically an incremental upgrade to Windows 2000, has been positioned as the direct replacement to Windows Me, officially marking the end of the DOS-based Windows 9x/Me line. Windows XP is indeed the long-anticipated operating system designed to finally unify both lines of Windows, bringing the bullet-proof stability of NT to home and small business users, and the industry support of Windows 9x/Me to corporate and power users.

The following brief sections illustrate the layout of the Windows XP interface and identify the important concepts and components. Continue to Chapter 2 for tips and shortcuts for working with files, windows, and applications.

Like most modern operating systems that use graphical user interfaces (such as the Mac, Unix, and earlier versions of Windows), Windows XP uses the metaphor of a desktop with windows and file folders laid out on it. This desktop metaphor is provided by a program called Windows Explorer (explorer.exe), which runs automatically every time you start Windows. Figure 1-1 shows the default Windows XP Desktop.

Figure 1-1: The layout of the Windows XP Desktop is much cleaner than previous versions

Windows XP offers several settings that affect the way the interface responds to mouse clicks, all of which are documented in Chapter 4. The default setting (the way it works when you first install Windows XP) will also be the most familiar to most users, as it is fairly consistent with the way that most computer software works.

To click an object, move the arrow cursor so that its pointer is over the object and press and release the left mouse button. Most buttons, menu items, checkboxes, and scrollbars are activated with single clicks.
To double-click an object, click the left mouse button twice in rapid succession (not the same as clicking twice slowly). In most cases, icons require a double-click to be activated.

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There are a bunch of ways to improve your experience with Windows XP. Some solutions involve making modifications and additions to the operating system, while others describe how to work with the tools that come out of the box. The tips in this chapter illustrate the various keyboard and mouse shortcuts available in Windows XP.

The tips that follow show you how to predict — and even change — how Explorer responds to the dragging and dropping of files. Here's an overview of how drag-drop works in Windows Explorer:

If you drag an object from one place to another on the same physical drive (c:\docs to c:\files), the object is moved.
If you drag an object from one physical drive to another physical drive (c:\docs to d:\files), the object is copied, resulting in two identical files on your system. This means that if you drag an object from one physical drive to another physical drive and then back to the first physical drive, but in a different folder (c:\docs to d:\files to c:\stuff ), you'll end up with three copies of the object.
If you drag any file named setup.exe or install.exe from one place to another, Windows will create a shortcut to the file, regardless of the source or destination folder. The exception is if you drag a file named setup.exe into a recordable CD drive, it will be copied. And if you drag a bunch of files of different types (including, say, setup.exe), the create-a-shortcut rules will be ignored, and they'll just be copied or moved as appropriate.
If you drag any file with the .exe filename extension into any portion of your Start Menu or into any subfolder of your Start Menu folder, Windows will create a shortcut to the file. Dragging other file types (documents, script files, other shortcuts) to the Start Menu will simply move or copy them there, according to the aforementioned rules.
If you drag a system object (such as a Control Panel icon), a warning is displayed, and a shortcut to the item is created. These objects aren't actually files and can't be duplicated or removed from their original locations.

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The tips that follow show you how to predict — and even change — how Explorer responds to the dragging and dropping of files. Here's an overview of how drag-drop works in Windows Explorer:

If you drag an object from one place to another on the same physical drive (c:\docs to c:\files), the object is moved.
If you drag an object from one physical drive to another physical drive (c:\docs to d:\files), the object is copied, resulting in two identical files on your system. This means that if you drag an object from one physical drive to another physical drive and then back to the first physical drive, but in a different folder (c:\docs to d:\files to c:\stuff ), you'll end up with three copies of the object.
If you drag any file named setup.exe or install.exe from one place to another, Windows will create a shortcut to the file, regardless of the source or destination folder. The exception is if you drag a file named setup.exe into a recordable CD drive, it will be copied. And if you drag a bunch of files of different types (including, say, setup.exe), the create-a-shortcut rules will be ignored, and they'll just be copied or moved as appropriate.
If you drag any file with the .exe filename extension into any portion of your Start Menu or into any subfolder of your Start Menu folder, Windows will create a shortcut to the file. Dragging other file types (documents, script files, other shortcuts) to the Start Menu will simply move or copy them there, according to the aforementioned rules.
If you drag a system object (such as a Control Panel icon), a warning is displayed, and a shortcut to the item is created. These objects aren't actually files and can't be duplicated or removed from their original locations.

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Certain keyboard shortcuts can be real time savers in Explorer, especially when used in conjunction with the mouse. The following tips assume you're using standard double-clicking, the default in Windows XP. If you've chosen to have icons respond to a single click (by going to Control Panel → Folder Options → General tab), just replace "double-click" here with "single-click."

Hold the Alt key while double-clicking on a file or folder to view the Properties sheet for that object.

Although this is often quicker than right-clicking and selecting Properties, the right-click menu — also known as the context menu — has a bunch of other options, most of which are not accessible with keystrokes. For more information on context menus and file types, see the discussion of Explorer in Chapter 3.
Hold the Shift key while double-clicking a folder icon to open an Explorer window at that location (as opposed to a single-folder window). Be careful when using this, because Shift is also used to select multiple files. The best way is to select the file first.
Press Backspace in an open folder window or in Explorer to go to the parent folder.
Hold Alt while pressing the left arrow (cursor) key to navigate to the previously viewed folder. Note that this is not necessarily the parent folder, but rather the last folder in Explorer's history. Once you've returned to a previously viewed folder, you can also hold Alt while pressing the right arrow key to move in the opposite direction (i.e., forward). Explorer's toolbar also has Back and Next buttons by default, which work just like their counterparts in Internet Explorer.
With the focus on Explorer's folder tree, use the left and right arrow keys to collapse and expand folders, respectively. Press the asterisk (*) key to expand all the sub-folders of the currently selected branch.

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The following keys operate in most contexts—i.e., on the Desktop, in Explorer, and within most applications and dialogs.

Action	Key(s)
AutoPlay, disable temporarily	Shift (while inserting CD)
Checkbox, toggle on or off	Spacebar
Clipboard, copy	Ctrl-C
Clipboard, copy current window as a bitmap	Alt-PrintScreen
Clipboard, copy entire screen as a bitmap	PrintScreen
Clipboard, cut	Ctrl-X
Clipboard, paste	Ctrl-V
Close current document	Ctrl-F4
Close current window	Alt-F4
Close dialog box, message window, or menu	Esc
Command button, click	Spacebar
Context menu, open	Shift-F10, or context menu key on some keyboards
Controls, cycle focus on a dialog box	Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)

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The following keystrokes work in Windows Explorer and most of the components that come with Windows XP. However, some applications (including Microsoft applications) don't always follow the rules.

Key	Action
F1	Start Help (supported in most applications)
F2	Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop
F3	Open a Search window (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only)
F4	Open a drop-down list (supported in many dialog boxes)—for example, press F4 in a File Open dialog to drop down the Look In list
F5	Refresh the view in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, in the Registry Editor, and in some other applications
F6	Move focus between panes in Windows Explorer
F10	Send focus to the current application's menu

Arrow keys	Basic navigation: move through menus, reposition the text cursor (insertion point), change the file selection, and so on
Backspace	Move up one level in folder hierarchy (Windows Explorer only)
Delete

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This chapter provides an alphabetical reference to all the useful components that make up Windows XP: an encyclopedia, if you will, of everything you can do with Windows out of the box. Some of the more prominent applications and utilities that come with Windows XP are available through shortcuts on the Start Menu, but many useful tools aren't as conspicuous, available only to those who know where to look.

In Windows, there is usually more than one way to accomplish any task. So, each entry in this chapter starts with the formal name of the component as it appears on screen and the executable filename, which can be typed in the address bar, the command prompt, or in Start → Run. Then, its location in the interface (if applicable) is shown with standard path notation, followed by a description, tips, command-line options, or other applicable helpful information.

Accessibility Options

\windows\system\access.cpl

Control Panel → [Accessibility Options] → Accessibility Options

This dialog provides options for the accessibility tools in Windows XP, such as StickyKeys, FilterKeys, ToggleKeys, MouseKeys, SoundSentry, and other settings designed to make a computer easier to use for those with poor eyesight, hearing, or some other physical challenge.

Accessibility Wizard

\windows\system32\accwiz.exe

Start → All Programs → Accessories → Accessibility → Accessibility Wizard

The Accessibility Wizard is an alternate interface to the settings provided in the Accessibility Options dialog, in that it will walk you through the available options one by one, lending assistance where you may not otherwise know which options you need.

Activate Windows

\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe

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After a quick assessment of Windows XP, it should become apparent that there are literally hundreds of settings, features, and displays of information, and finding these items in the interface can sometimes be a challenge.

This section provides a comprehensive listing of more than 700 entries, all of which are accessible with components listed in Chapter 3, but sorted alphabetically by their function rather than by their location in the operating system interface. For example, to find out how to turn off the Power Management icon in the Taskbar Notification Area, look under "Taskbar Notification Area, Power Icon." A few settings have been duplicated with different labels to make them easier to find, so you'll also find this setting under "Advanced Power Management, icon in Notification Area (tray)."

In this section, we've used some shorthand to keep the table as concise as possible. Entries that start with an ellipsis ( . . . ) fall under the same category as the preceding non-ellipsis entry.

Setting	Location
Accessibility, additional settings for web pages	Control Panel → Internet Options → General tab → Accessibility
. . . enable/disable warnings & notifications	Control Panel → Accessibility Options → General tab
. . . move Magnifier with focus change in web pages	Control Panel → Internet Options → Advanced tab → Accessibility → Move system caret with focus/selection changes
Address bar, Go button	See Go button

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In this section, we've used some shorthand to keep the table as concise as possible. Entries that start with an ellipsis ( . . . ) fall under the same category as the preceding non-ellipsis entry.

Setting	Location
Accessibility, additional settings for web pages	Control Panel → Internet Options → General tab → Accessibility
. . . enable/disable warnings & notifications	Control Panel → Accessibility Options → General tab
. . . move Magnifier with focus change in web pages	Control Panel → Internet Options → Advanced tab → Accessibility → Move system caret with focus/selection changes
Address bar, Go button	See Go button
. . . history settings	Control Panel → Internet Options → General tab → History section
. . . search settings	Control Panel → Internet Options → Advanced tab → Search from the Address bar
. . . show in Explorer	Explorer → View → Toolbars → Address Bar
. . . show on taskbar	Right-click on empty area of taskbar → Toolbars → Address
. . . show the full path of current folder	Control Panel → Folder Options → View tab → Display the full path in the address bar

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The Registry is a database containing all the settings for Windows XP, as well as the applications installed on your system. All your file types are stored in the Registry, as well as all the network, hardware, and software settings for Windows XP and all the particular configuration options for most of the software you've installed.

Many advanced settings in Windows XP can only be changed by manipulating data in the Registry. The solutions in this chapter detail some of the more useful and frequently needed Registry tweaks.

Although the Registry is stored in multiple files on your hard disk, it is represented by a single logical hierarchical structure, similar to the folders on your hard disk. The Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) is included with Windows XP to enable you to view and manually edit the contents of the Registry.

When you open the Registry Editor, you'll see a window divided into two panes: the left side shows a tree with keys (represented as folders), and the right side shows the contents (values) stored in the currently selected key.

Editing the Registry generally involves navigating down through branches to a particular key and then modifying an existing value or creating a new key or value. You can modify the contents of any value by double-clicking it.

Although most Registry settings are entirely benign, you can irrevocably disable certain components of Windows XP—or even prevent Windows from starting—if you don't excercise some caution. You can limit the risk by creating Registry patches (backups) of keys before you modify their contents by going to File → Export. Better yet, a complete system backup will ensure that even the most severe mistakes are recoverable.

To add a new key or value, select New from the Edit menu, select what you want to add, and then type a name. You can delete a key or value by clicking on it and pressing the Del key or by right-clicking on it and selecting Delete. You can also rename any existing value and

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Although the Registry is stored in multiple files on your hard disk, it is represented by a single logical hierarchical structure, similar to the folders on your hard disk. The Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) is included with Windows XP to enable you to view and manually edit the contents of the Registry.

When you open the Registry Editor, you'll see a window divided into two panes: the left side shows a tree with keys (represented as folders), and the right side shows the contents (values) stored in the currently selected key.

Editing the Registry generally involves navigating down through branches to a particular key and then modifying an existing value or creating a new key or value. You can modify the contents of any value by double-clicking it.

Although most Registry settings are entirely benign, you can irrevocably disable certain components of Windows XP—or even prevent Windows from starting—if you don't excercise some caution. You can limit the risk by creating Registry patches (backups) of keys before you modify their contents by going to File → Export. Better yet, a complete system backup will ensure that even the most severe mistakes are recoverable.

To add a new key or value, select New from the Edit menu, select what you want to add, and then type a name. You can delete a key or value by clicking on it and pressing the Del key or by right-clicking on it and selecting Delete. You can also rename any existing value and almost any key with the same methods used to rename files in Explorer: right-click on an object and click Rename, click on it twice (slowly), or just highlight it and press the F2 key. Renaming a key or value is a safe alternative to deleting.

Similar to Explorer, though, is the notion of a path . A Registry path is a location in the Registry described by the series of nested keys in which a setting is located. For example, if a particular value is in the Microsoft key under SOFTWARE, which is under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, the Registry path is

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Each of the following tweaks points to a Registry path, and then describes the value (or values) that need to be modified. If any of the keys or values specified don't exist on your system, simply create them as directed. The topics covered include Files, Folders, and File Types (next), Performance Tweaks, and User Account and Network Settings.

These next few settings deal with file types, which affect files, folders, Desktop icons, and other objects.

Section 5.2.1.1: Add Delete and Rename to the Recycle Bin's context menu

Location

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-
00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder\

Directions

Set the Attributes value to

70 01 00
20

for Delete and Rename, or 50 01 00 20 for Rename only (the default is 40 01 00 20). Then, right-click the Recycle Bin and select Rename or Delete.

Section 5.2.1.2: Hide all Desktop icons

Location

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Directions

Create a binary value called NoDesktop and set it to 01 00 00 00 to hide all Desktop icons. Delete the NoDesktop value to restore the Desktop icons.

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Windows keeps track of its various components with Class IDs, 33-digit codes consisting of both letters and numbers, enclosed in {curly braces}. Class IDs are stored in the Registry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID. Locate the key named for a Class ID under this branch to change any settings or behavior of the corresponding object. Use the Registry Editor's search feature to find the Class ID for an object not listed here by searching for the caption of the object.

The following is a list of the commonly used system objects and their corresponding Class IDs.

Object	Class ID
Administrative Tools	{D20EA4E1-3957-11D2-A40B-0C5020524153}
Briefcase	{85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}
Control Panel	{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Desktop	{00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Favorites	{1A9BA3A0-143A-11CF-8350-444553540000}
Fonts	{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}
Internet Explorer	{FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}
Internet Explorer ActiveX Cache	{88C6C381-2E85-11d0-94DE-444553540000}
Internet Explorer Cache	{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}

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The premise of the command prompt is simple enough: commands are typed, one at a time, at a blinking cursor, and the commands are issued when the Enter key is pressed. After a command has completed, a new prompt is shown, allowing additional commands to be typed.

To open a command prompt window, go to Start → Programs → Accessories → Command Prompt, or go to Start → Run and launch cmd.exe.

Some commands are fairly rudimentary, requiring only that you type their name. Other commands are more involved, and can require several options (sometimes called arguments or command-line parameters). For example, the del command (discussed later in this chapter) is used to delete one or more files; it requires that the name of the file be specified after the command, like this:

del /p myfile.txt

Here, myfile.txt is the filename to be deleted, and /p is an extra option used to modify the behavior of del. Now, the fact that this usage is not limited to internal commands (like del) is what makes the command line such an important part of Windows XP's design. For example:

notepad c:\folder\myfile.txt

is what Windows executes behind the scenes, by default, when you double-click the myfile.txt icon in Explorer. The Notepad application name is used as a command here; if you type the filename of any existing file at the command prompt, it instructs Windows to launch that file. This works for applications, Windows Shortcuts, batch files, documents, or any other type of file; the only requirement is that the file be located in the current working directory (see the cd command, later in this chapter) or in a folder specified in the path (also discussed later in this chapter).

In addition to the command prompt window, there are two other places in Windows XP that act similarly: the address bar and the Start → Run dialog. The primary difference is that neither of these interfaces recognize the internal commands listed in this chapter, nor do they remember the state from the previous command (which means that commands like

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These symbols have special meaning when used with other commands on the command line:

Symbol	Description
`*`	Multiple-character wildcard, used to specify a group of files.
`?`	Single-character wildcard, used to specify multiple files with more precision than *.
`.`	One dot represents the current directory; see "cd."
`..`	Two dots represent the parent directory; see "cd."
`\`	Separates directory names, drive letters, and filenames. By itself, \ represents the root directory of the current drive.
`>`	Redirect a command's text output into a file instead of the console window; existing files will be overwritten.
`>>`	Redirect a command's text output into a file instead of the console window, appending existing files.
`<`	Directs the contents of a text file to a command's input; use in place of keyboard entry to automate interactive command-line applications.

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Most of the following commands are not standalone applications, but rather internal functions of the Command Prompt (cmd.exe) application (they won't be recognized by the address bar or by Start → Run.) A few entries, such as xcopy.exe and move.exe, are actually standalone applications, but are typically useful only when called from the command prompt.

cd or chdir

With no arguments, cd displays the full pathname of the current directory. Given the pathname of an existing directory, it changes the current directory to the specified directory. The syntax is:

cd [directory]

If directory is on a different drive (for example, if the current directory is c:\dream and you type cd d:\nightmare), the current working directory on that drive is changed, but the current working drive is not; that is, you'll still be in c:\dream. To change the current drive, simply type the letter followed by a colon, by itself, at the prompt. When you subsequently switch to the D: drive by typing d: at the prompt, you'll be dumped right into the nightmare directory.

Pathnames can be absolute (including the full path starting with the root) or relative to the current directory. A path can be optionally prefixed with a drive letter. The special paths . and .. refer to the current directory and its parent directory, respectively.

Examples

If the current drive is C:, to make c:\chefs\Akira the current directory:

cd \chefs\Akira

To change to the parent directory (here, c:\chefs):

cd ..

To change to the root directory of the current drive (here, c:\):

cd \

cls

Type cls at the prompt to clear the screen and the screen buffer, useful for privacy concerns or simply to reduce clutter. The difference between using

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The Windows Recovery Console (WRC) is a tool included with Windows XP, used to repair the operating system when it won't start, as well as perform some other tasks not otherwise possible from within Windows. For those accustomed to being able to boot into DOS to effect repairs in some earlier versions of Windows, the WRC is the Windows XP equivalent.

The WRC allows you to do the following:

Repair a Windows XP installation, including the filesystem boot sector, the Master Boot Record (MBR), and the Boot Manager configuration
Copy, rename, delete, or replace operating system files that otherwise cannot be modified while Windows is running
Enable or disable services or devices
Create and format hard drive partitions

To get into the WRC, you'll need to boot up off the Windows XP CD. After Setup loads all its drivers, press R to start the Windows Recovery Console.

You can also install the Recovery Console to your hard disk so that it can be started without the CD. This option, which will add it to the Boot Manager menu, is useful if you find that you need the Recovery Console frequently or you're unable to boot off the CD. To install the WRC, insert your Windows CD, go to Start → Run, and type d:

\i386\winnt32.exe
/cmdcons

, where d: is the drive letter of your CD drive.

Regardless of how the WRC is started, you'll be greeted with a rather unfriendly warning message, followed by the following prompt:

Which Windows installation would you like to logon to (enter to abort)?

Choose whatever number corresponds to the Windows installation you wish to repair (usually 1), and log in using your Administrator password. If you've forgotten your Administrator password (set when Windows XP was installed), WRC won't let you in. You'll have three tries before WRC reboots your system. If this is the case, and Windows won't start, you may have to reinstall Windows XP.

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Security is a very real concern for any computer connected to a network or the Internet. There are three main categories of security threats:

A deliberate, targetted attack through your network connection: Ironically, this is the type of attack most people fear, but realistically, it is the least likely to occur, at least where home and small office networks are concerned. It's possible for a so-called hacker to obtain access to your computer, either through your Internet connection or from another computer on your local network; just not terribly likely that such a hacker will bother.
An automated invasion by a virus, robot, or Trojan horse: A virus is a computer program that is designed to duplicate itself with the purpose of infecting as many computers as possible. If your networked computer is infected by a virus, it might use your network connection to infect other computers; likewise, if another computer on your network is infected, your computer is vulnerable to infection. The same goes for Internet connections, although the method of transport is typically an infected email attachment.

There also exist so-called robots, programs that are designed to scan large groups of IP addresses, looking for vulnerabilities. The motive for such a program can be anything from exploitation of credit card numbers or other sensitive information to the hijacking of computers for the purpose of distributing spam, viruses, or extreme right-wing propoganda.

Finally, a Trojan horse is a program that works somewhat like a virus, except that its specific purpose is to create vulnerabilities in your computer that can subsequently be exploited by a hacker or robot. For example, a program might open a port on your computer and then communicate with a remote system to announce its presence.
A deliberate attack by a person sitting at your computer

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Windows XP includes several features that will enable you to implement a reasonable level of security without purchasing additional software or hardware. Unfortunately, Windows is not configured for optimal security by default. The following steps will help you close some of these back doors:

By default, the file sharing service is enabled for Internet connections, but in most cases, there's no reason for this. Open the Network Connections window, right-click the icon corresponding to your Internet connection, and select Properties. In the General tab, clear the checkbox next to the "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" option. If you have more than one Internet connection icon, repeat this for each of the others, but leave it enabled for the connection to your workgroup (if applicable).
One of the main reasons to set up a workgroup is to share files and printers with other computers. But it's wise to share only those folders that need to be shared, and disable sharing for all others. A feature called Simple File Sharing, which could allow anyone, anywhere, to access your personal files without your knowledge, is turned on by default in Windows XP. Go to Control Panel → Folder Options → View tab, and turn off the "Use simple file sharing" option.
Another feature, called Universal Plug & Play (UPnP), can open additional vulnerabilities on your system. UPnP is a collection of standards that allow such devices to announce their presence to UPnP servers on your network, similarly to how your PnP sound card announces its presence to Windows when you boot your system.

Windows XP supports UPnP out of the box, but UPnP is a service that most users don't need. Unless you specifically need to connect to a UPnP device on your network, you should disable UPnP on your system immediately or risk exposing your system to several security threats.

To disable UPnP, open the Services window (services.msc

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Each open network port on your computer is a potential security vulnerability. Fortunately, there's a way to scan your computer for open ports so you know which holes to patch. Start by opening a command prompt window (cmd.exe) and running utility by typing netstat /a /o. The Active Connections utility displays its information in these five columns:

Column	Description
Proto	This will be either TCP or UDP, representing the protocol being used.
Local Address	This column has two components: the computer name and either a port number or the name of a service.
Foreign Address	For active connections, you'll see the name or IP address of the remote machine, followed by the port number. For inactive connections (showing only the open ports), you'll typically see only :.
State	This shows the state of the connection (TCP ports only). For server processes, you'll usually see LISTENING here, signifying that the process has opened the port and is waiting for an incoming connection. For connections originating from your computer, such as a web browser downloading a page or an active Telnet session, you'll see ESTABLISHED here.
PID	This is the Process Identifier of the application or service that is responsible for opening the port; see the rest of this section for help with matching up the PID with an application or process.

Don't be alarmed if you see a lot of open ports. Just make sure you thoroughly track down each one, making sure it doesn't pose a security threat.

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Table of Contents

Section 5.2.1.1: Add Delete and Rename to the Recycle Bin's context menu

Section 5.2.1.2: Hide all Desktop icons