Have you ever needed to repeatedly access a folder that is nested deep inside a giant hierarchy of folders? Sure, you can always create a shortcut to that folder, but did you know you can actually assign a drive letter to a folder instead? Today we'll show you how to do this.

This ability has existed in Windows via the subst command for quite a while, so this will also work for you XP users as well.

Map a Drive Letter the Easy Way

The easiest way to assign a drive letter to a folder is to use a simple utility called Visual Subst, which gives you a nice graphical interface to assign drive letters, but also does something that the command line version can't… you can set your virtual drives to apply again at startup.

You can download and run the utility without needing to install it, and then simply use the Browse button to select your path, and click the green plus symbol after choosing the drive letter.

At this point you should see the drive letter show up in the list. (Note that you can delete it by highlighting and choosing the red X icon, or change the path / letter by using the Save button.

If you want to save the drives, you'll want to select the "Apply virtual drives on Windows startup" option.

Now when you open up your Computer window, you should see the new drive show up in the list.

The contents of the new M: drive will actually be the contents of my desktop folder.

Download Visual Subst from ntwind.com

Courtesy : www.howtogeek.com

Remove Status messages in Y! Messenger

Desktop notepad appears at startup

Get XP Product Key from CD itself

Just explore the CD then open the folder I386 then open the file UNATTEND.TXT and scroll down to the last line, there you have a Product Key.

fix this in following steps

This is a trick by which you can make any icon invisible and can access it in the invisible state only ..... Its not altering the properties to hidden ...... Here are the steps : 1. Locate the icon and then right click ..... go to properties .... then go to customize tab ..... there will be a transparent(invisible) icon as shown in the screenshot .... select it and click on Apply.....



2. Now rename the icon / folder



press ALT + 255 .......... (enter 255 from the right numpad with numlock off) .....

TADAA!!!!!

The default speed of the Start Menu is pretty slow, but you can fix that by editing a Registry Key. Fire up the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ MenuShowDelay

By default, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value, such as 0, to speed it up.

If this doesn't work for some reason, then you might try the following: Navigate to Display Properties then Appearance then Effects and turn off the option titled Show menu shadow. You will get much better overall performance.

By default, the Windows XP Recycle Bin sits at the bottom right of the desktop, just above the tray notification area and system clock. If you've got many floating windows open, however, it's possible to obscure the Recycle Bin and make it impossible to drag files and folders there for deletion. However, you can automatically hide all of those open windows during a drag operation. The first time it happened, I thought it was a fluke. But it's not. Instead, it's a cool hidden feature of XP.

Here's how it works: Make sure a bunch of windows are open on the screen, with at least one of them hiding the Recycle Bin. Then, find a file or group of files you'd like to drag to the Recycle Bin. Pick up the files with the mouse and move them to the lower right of the screen. As you reach the bottom area of the screen, pass the mouse cursor over a blank area of the task bar, hover there for an instant, and the open windows all minimize, leaving the Recycle Bin available to accept the dragged files. Good stuff. This tip also works when windows are maximized, assuming the file(s) you want to delete are visible in one of the available windows.

Speed up the Start Menu

The default speed of the Start Menu is pretty slow, but you can fix that by editing a Registry Key. Fire up the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ MenuShowDelay

By default, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value, such as 0, to speed it up.

If this doesn't work for some reason, then you might try the following: Navigate to Display Properties then Appearance then Effects and turn off the option titled Show menu shadow. You will get much better overall performance.

Delete files when the Recycle Bin is hidden

By default, the Windows XP Recycle Bin sits at the bottom right of the desktop, just above the tray notification area and system clock. If you've got many floating windows open, however, it's possible to obscure the Recycle Bin and make it impossible to drag files and folders there for deletion. However, you can automatically hide all of those open windows during a drag operation. The first time it happened, I thought it was a fluke. But it's not. Instead, it's a cool hidden feature of XP.

Here's how it works: Make sure a bunch of windows are open on the screen, with at least one of them hiding the Recycle Bin. Then, find a file or group of files you'd like to drag to the Recycle Bin. Pick up the files with the mouse and move them to the lower right of the screen. As you reach the bottom area of the screen, pass the mouse cursor over a blank area of the task bar, hover there for an instant, and the open windows all minimize, leaving the Recycle Bin available to accept the dragged files. Good stuff. This tip also works when windows are maximized, assuming the file(s) you want to delete are visible in one of the available windows.

Make any icon / folder on your desktop invisible

This is a trick by which you can make any icon invisible and can access it in the invisible state only ..... Its not altering the properties to hidden ...... Here are the steps :

1. Locate the icon and then right click ..... go to properties .... then go to customize tab ..... there will be a transparent(invisible) icon as shown in the screenshot .... select it and click on Apply.....



2. Now rename the icon / folder



press ALT + 255 .......... (enter 255 from the right numpad with numlock off) .....

TADAA!!!!!

Copy following lines in NOTEPAD:-

DEL /S /q "Drive Letter:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Temp\"
DEL /S /q "Drive Letter:\WINDOWS\Temp\"
DEL /S /q "Drive Letter:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\"


1.Write the drive letter of windows drive eg. If windows is installed in c drive then,

DEL /S /q "C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Temp\"

2.Write the current user name eg. IF you have give user name "Owner" {Dont include double quotes)then,

DEL /S /q "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temp\"

3.Save the text file and give name "deltemp.bat"{Dont include double quotes} in my documents{If you desire you can change the location)

4.When you are going to shut down your PC or Laptop,run this file where you have saved by just double clicking on it...

You will see the startup of Windows is faster tha previous

When you have saved that deltemp.bat file...

and you dont want to run it again and again while shutting down Computer then you can make it automatic...It will run automatically when u shut down your Computer...

PROCEDURE
1.Open run command located in start menu.

2.Type "gpedit.msc"(without double quotes).

3.Go to Computer Configuration>Windows Settings>Scripts>Shutdown

4.Double click on Shutdown...A dialog box will be opened...Click on ADD button...

5.Now browse and locate that file "deltemp.bat" and open it..then click on OK button

Now you dont need to run that file again & again...

How to delete a file when

• Windows says 'file access denied'.
• 'File in use' error.
• Can't delete a file (insert cryptic reason).
• Rebooting doesn't help delete the file.

Despite all its quirks, Windows does do some things for a good reason. Some files need to be locked down when they are in use, otherwise you risk damaging the file or harming the Operating System. Unfortunately Windows XP seems to be plagued by files that cannot be deleted. These are frequently simple files like videos (AVI), MP3s or other seemingly harmless files. You try to delete the file, Windows waits a few seconds before announcing that access is denied, the file is currently in use and cannot be deleted. However, you know it's not in use and you just want it deleted.

If you have encountered this problem, here is a step-by-step process for trying to purge the files you can't delete. It starts with the basics for Windows XP and moves on to more involved tricks. The process will work for all recent Windows releases, but Windows XP has been causing the most the problems, so we will focus on it. Please note: we are assuming that the file is not crucial to the operation of Windows - deleting important system files can cause havoc.

1. Is the file in use? It sounds obvious but it happens. If it is being used or open, close the file and the application that opened it. For example, if it is a Word document, close Microsoft Word.
2. If the file was opened in an application (and subsequently closed), but the program is still running, try quitting the program. Windows will lock a file because the application hasn't yet released it. This is not always Windows fault and can be the fault of the program.
3. If the file is an AVI, in particular a DivX AVI, try renaming it and then deleting it. DivX files don't get on very well with Windows XP and sometimes renaming the file can trick Windows into releasing it.
4. Reboot your PC and don't start any programs. Go directly to the file and delete it.
5. In Windows Explorer, switch to View-Details and then select View-Choose Details. Uncheck everything except the file name. This stops Windows XP trying to read the file - this problem affects many video, audio and graphics files.
6. Still no luck? OK, here is the best trick of all. Most sites give you cryptic Windows registry and DOS commands to remove a file, but the answer is so much simpler. Get a copy of MoveOnBoot. It's free and this simple tool allows you to Move, Copy or Delete files before Windows can lock or alter the files. The changes are made to your hard drive before Windows starts, hence it requires a restart of your system after you give MoveOnBoot its instructions. There are no messy boot or DOS commands, just a simple 3-step process.
   
   
   Step 1: Locate the name of the file that is causing your problems.
   
   Step 2: Decide if you want to copy, move or delete the file.
   
   Step 3. Choose a destination for moving the file, or a new file name for the rename option (this option won't appear if you are deleting a file).
   
   Click OK to confirm you want to process. The nice thing is that the program doesn't make you reboot straight away. It's a good idea to reboot ASAP, but if you are in the middle of something and want to wait, the program will simply run next time you start Windows.
   
   
7. If the file reappears again (check its creation date to ensure it is being recreated) and you can't make it budge, you may have trouble with spyware or a virus on your system (don't overlook the possibility it may also be an important system file). In this case you should get a good spyware removal program to scan your system.

The Microsoft Consolas Font Family is a set of highly legible fonts designed for ClearType. It is intended for use in programming environments and other circumstances where a monospaced font is specified.

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Remove history in internet explorer address bar in WINDOWS XP .

1-Close all Explorer windows, (Internet and Folder)

2-Right click on internet explorer icon on your desktop then click properties. (assuming you are viewing in classical mode, if not go in CONTROL PANEL and double click INTERNET OPTIONS)

3-Click on the CONTENT -TAB-.

4-Click the AUTOCOMPLETE -Button-.

5-FIRST!!! uncheck the -Box- for WEB ADDRESSES, then click once on the CLEAR FORMS -Button-, then click OK and you are done. And here is the rest of it.

If your desktop looks something like this then you NEED TO READ THIS ARTICLE !




Well the awesome screen shot of the desktop was mine until I realised the reason we have a messy desktop is it so easy to access and we go on adding stuff untill we get the annoying windows clean my desktop wizard like an unwanted House keeping knock on a cheesy motel !

Not any more....also check out a way to launch your fav programs faster than searching in start menu !

Well here is how we do it, we are going to create an alternative to desktop !

1) Create a folder which will be your alternative to desktop.

I strongly recommend that you create this Folder other than C: as a matter of fact you should not be using C: to store any personal file since if you need to format your C: all the personal file will be lost !

I am going to call this folder Quickdesk

Make it hidden (By right click properties)

2) Add quickdesk to task bar

This is best way to access the quickdesk since it will contain folders (such as Music, Movies, Photos etc)

To add Rightclick on Taskbar > Toolbars > New Toolbars
Then browse to the location where you have quickdesk. This adds a toolbar by which you can directly go to the place where you want to go.

As you start using this you will realise how productive this way is !



(Just in case you are wondering what are those folders, there are not default. These are the folders created earlier)

3) Create a shortcut of Quickdesk
You can do this by the usual method by Right - click on the folder Create short cut and then rename the Shortcut to Quickdesk.

Now to add some style choose a icon for the Shortcut By Right click > Properties > Shortcut tab > Change Icon. You can even choose a fancy one by clicking browse.

4) Copy the shortcut to Desktop

We are adding a shortcut to desktop for one main reason is access the quickdesk while Uploading or dowloading you don't have to browse for Quickdesk instead just go to desktop and click on Quickdesk icon which will take you to the Quickdesk folder.

5) Add this short cut to your Quick launch

You can add to Quick lauch by dragging the Shortcut from desktop to the quick launch.



This will be the fastest way to access the Quickdesk !
If you don't have the Quick launch toolbar than you can add that by Right clicking the taskbar > Toolbars > Quick launch

6) Copy to windows folder

Copy Quickdesk short cut to windows folder ( By default c:\windows) so that we can launch by the run (windows + R ) or start > Run

Just by typing quickdesk and clicking run will launch the folder.
You can use this method for launching folders inside the quickdesk folder.


How to Start using ?

The idea is to use shortcuts to organise the most accessed data we have. We keep our data disorganised to different reasons such as space availability, convenience etc. So while your Music might be in some folder in d: your photos in several different place !

Create folders for each type of category. Photo, Movies, Videos, Music, downloads to name a few !

Here comes the Oh yeah moment !

So assume you have songs in a folder in d:\somefolder\morefolder\thefolder\songs (even somplace on your network !)

To make it accessible fast create a shortcut on Music folder by Rightclick > New >Create shortcut

I even changed the icon of the shortcut to a much more appropriate !

Now check out how easy this is to access in the screen shot below !



Now in winamp to play it just got to desktop > Quickdesk > Music > songs shortcut !

Talking about Winamp you can even launch application like this !

We all know what pain in the neck it is to Go to start and wait till the Ram deficient CPU displays the list of programs and then search the one you want ! Keeping the shorcuts on the desktop also adds to clutter to startwith !

To add Application to Quickdesk, copy the shortcut from the desktop or program files and paste it in the :Quickdesk\programs

Now check out how east and FAST it is to launch this way !


This has completely changed the way I access the data..... Did it yours ?

Go to this location..
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc"

There you'll find a file by the name "hosts". Open this file using notepad.
The last line of this file will look like this..

"127.0.0.1 localhost"

Now below this line add this..
"127.0.0.1 xxxxxxxx"
(Where xxxxxxxx is the website that you want to block on your computer.)

Now save the file.. If having difficulty in saving the file change the properties of the file. Its default might be set as "Read-Only"

P.S. do not write http://_______ before website name

Who Used your computer, In my absense,what did he do?Here is a small trick which shows who operated your pc what did he do & watch he hs watching how much long he has been using ur pc...


First you should goto :

start-- > run-- > eventvwr.msc

Events are stored in three log files: Application, Security, and System. These logs can be reviewed and archived.
For our purposes we want the System log. Click on "System" in the left-hand column for a list of events.
Look for a date and time when you weren't home and your computer should have been off.

Double click on the eg: info and it will show u the detail.

You can also use this log to see how long someone was on the computer. Just look at the time the computer was turned on and off for that day.

Hope u all will like it.

Customize your folders with an image as an background .

You can either do it manually or download a software for this purpose




Method :

1.open a text editor (notepad)

2.copy the following code into it

[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}]
ICONAREA_IMAGE=C:\Documents and Settings\CYBERMAFIA\My Documents\kt_001.jpg

3.Replace the text in red with the location of your image (preferably of size 800 x 600)

4.Save the file as desktop.ini

5.Now paste this file in the folder you want to implement the background



ALTERNATIVE METHOD :

Download WindowPaper XP

Add a website link to start menu

Adding items to the Start menu in Windows is very convenient when it comes to starting applications. The below steps will show you how to add URL links to the Start menu so you can quickly access Web sites without needing to open a browser first.

1. Right click on the Start button and select Explore
2. After Windows Explorer opens, in the right window pane, right click and select New / Shortcut
3. In the "Type the location of the item" enter the Web Site URL you want to create. An example would be (without quotes) "http://www.freakytrix.co.cc/"
4. Click Next
5. In the "Type a name for this shortcut:" enter a name for the link that you want to display in the Start menu.
6. Click Finish
7. Now click on the Start menu and you will see the new link you just created. Click on it and it will open up to the website.