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Windows XP Hacks

100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools

By
Preston Gralla
Publisher:
O'Reilly Media
Released:
August 2003
Pages:
416

Product Editions

Please consider the latest edition.

  1. Windows XP Hacks, Second Edition - February 2005
  2. Windows XP Hacks - August 2003
Description
Now power users can rejoice! Windows XP Hacks offers tips, tools, and know-how to bend Windows XP to your will. The book delves into XP topics such as controlling the control panel, changing unchangeable icons, removing uninstallable XP components, stopping pop-up ads, taking a bite out of cookies, speeding up file downloads, protecting yourself with firewalls and proxy servers, and more. Users of both Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Pro Edition will find smart, timesaving, fun, and useful hacks for virtually every feature in their operating system. Even if you're not a power user yet, this book will have you well on your way.
Full Description
Table of Contents

  1. Chapter 1 Startup and Shutdown

    1. Hacks #1-7

    2. Customize Multiboot Startup Options

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

    4. Speed Up Boot and Shutdown Times

    5. Halt Startup Programs and Services

    6. Create Multiple Startup Profiles with Advanced Startup Manager

    7. Miscellaneous Startup and Shutdown Hacks

    8. Control User Logins by Hacking the Registry

  2. Chapter 2 The User Interface

    1. Hacks #8-20

    2. Customize the GUI with TweakUI

    3. Control the Control Panel

    4. Hack the Start Menu and Taskbar

    5. Clean Up the Most Frequently Used Programs List

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

    7. Remove "Unremovable" Desktop Icons

    8. Create Your Own XP Themes and Find Thousands Online

    9. Give XP a Makeover with WindowBlinds

    10. Hacking Your Way Through the Interface

    11. Remove "Uninstallable" XP Utilities

    12. Create Transparent Windows

    13. Make Your Own Cursors and Icons

    14. Windows XP to Windows 2000: Retro is Cool

  3. Chapter 3 Windows Explorer

    1. Hacks #21-32

    2. Generating Folder and File Listingsfor Printing or Editing

    3. Control Windows Explorer with Command-Line Shortcuts

    4. Empower Windows Explorer with PowerDesk

    5. Better File Rename

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

    7. Hiding Folders and Files with the Encrypting File System

    8. Forcing Windows Explorer Into True Usefulness

    9. Customize Folder Icons and Balloon Text

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

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

    12. Get More Hard Disk Space by Using NTFS Compression

    13. Put a Command-Line Prompt on Your Desktop

  4. Chapter 4 The Web

    1. Hacks #33-41

    2. Stop Pop Ups, Spyware, and Web Bugs

    3. Take a Bite Out of Cookies

    4. Read Web Pages Offline

    5. Better Internet Searching from Your Desktop

    6. Hack Internet Explorer with the Group Policy Editor

    7. Speed Up File Downloads

    8. Surf Anonymously Without a Trace

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

    10. Run Java Applets Without Crashes or Problems

  5. Chapter 5 Networking

    1. Hacks #42-62

    2. War Driving for WiFi Access

    3. Test Your Security with Shields Up!

    4. Tweak DNS Settings for Faster Internet Access

    5. Fix Windows Media Player's Privacy Problems

    6. Protect Your Computer with the Internet Connection Firewall

    7. Use a Proxy Server to Protect Your PC

    8. ZoneAlarm: The World's Best Free Firewall

    9. Optimize Your Residential Gateway

    10. Punch an Escape Hole Through Your Firewall

    11. Close Down Open Ports and Block Protocols

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

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

    14. Speed Up Network Browsing

    15. Extend the Range of Your Wireless Network

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

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

    18. Control Another PC with Remote Access

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

    20. Renewing Your DHCP-Assigned IP Address

    21. Repair a Broken TCP/IP Connection

    22. Set Up a Virtual Private Network

  6. Chapter 6 Email

    1. Hacks #63-67

    2. Slam That Spam

    3. Open Blocked File Attachments in Outlook and Outlook Express

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

    5. Fire Outlook and Outlook Express

    6. Retrieve Web-Based Email with Your Email Software

  7. Chapter 7 The Registry

    1. Hacks #68-72

    2. Don't Fear the Registry

    3. Hacking Away at the Registry

    4. Safely Edit the Registry Using .reg Files

    5. Better Registry Backups

    6. Track and Restore Registry Changes with RegSpy

  8. Chapter 8 Basic Utilities

    1. Hacks #73-79

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

    3. Speed Up Your Hard Disk by Improving Defragging

    4. Build a Better Backup Strategy

    5. Extending Your Screen Real Estate with Virtual Desktops

    6. Top Screenshot Tips

    7. Going Beyond Messaging with Windows Messenger

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

  9. Chapter 9 Applications

    1. Hacks #80-85

    2. Remove Unruly Applications and Uninstall Entries

    3. Force XP-Incompatible Applications to Run

    4. Force Older Programs to Use XP Common Controls

    5. Launch Applications with Command-Line Shortcuts

    6. Open and Create Microsoft Documents without Microsoft Office

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

  10. Chapter 10 Graphics and Multimedia

    1. Hacks #86-90

    2. Image Conversion in a Pinch

    3. Problem-Free CD Burning

    4. Save Streaming Music to Your PC

    5. File Sharing without the Spyware

    6. Tips for Making Videos with Windows Movie Maker

  11. Chapter 11 System Performance

    1. Hacks #91-94

    2. Track System Performance with the Performance Console

    3. Getting the Most Out of Your RAM

    4. More Power: Registry Hacks to Speed Up XP

    5. Repair and Recovery with the Recovery Console

  12. Chapter 12 Hardware

    1. Hacks #95-100

    2. Troubleshoot Hardware by Decoding Device Manager Error Messages

    3. Uncover Hidden Hardware with the Device Manager

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

    5. Remap Your Keyboard

    6. Use ClearType for Better Laptop and LCD Resolution

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

  1. Colophon

View Full Table of Contents
Product Details
Title:
Windows XP Hacks
By:
Preston Gralla
Publisher:
O'Reilly Media
Formats:
  • Print
  • Safari Books Online
Print Release:
August 2003
Pages:
416
Print ISBN:
978-0-596-00511-5
| ISBN 10:
0-596-00511-3
Customer Reviews
About the Author

  1. Preston Gralla

    Preston Gralla, the author of more than 20 books, is also a freelance journalist and columnist. He has written for major national newspapers and magazines, including PC Magazine, Computerworld, the Los Angeles Times, the Dallas Morning News (where he was the technology columnist), USA Today and several others. A well-known technology expert, Preston has also appeared on many TV and radio programs and networks, including CNN, MSNBC and NPR. In addition, he's won a number of awards for his writing, including for "Best Feature in a Computer Magazine" from the Computer Press Association. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    View Preston Gralla's full profile page.

Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The tool on the cover of Windows XP Hacks is an antique fan. Fans have been used to provide relief from the heat since the late 1880s. Antique fans that pre-date 1900 are quite rare and are highly sought after by collectors. Darren Kelly was the production editor, and Brian Sawyer was the copyeditor for Windows XP Hacks. Colleen Gorman and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Ellen Troutman-Zaig wrote the index. Jamie Peppard, Mary Agner, and James Quill provided production assistance.

Hanna Dyer designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is a photograph taken from the PhotoSpin Power Photos Nostalgia CD, Volume 9, Disk 2. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's Helvetica Neue and ITC Garamond fonts.

David Futato designed the interior layout. This book was converted by Julie Hawks to FrameMaker 5.5.6 with a format conversion tool created by Erik Ray, Jason McIntosh, Neil Walls, and Mike Sierra that uses Perl and XML technologies. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Helvetica Neue Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. This colophon was compiled by Darren Kelly.

  • Book cover of Windows XP Hacks
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