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Windows XP Hacks100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools Did you know that when you shut down Outlook Express it doesn't really shut down, but sometimes continues running in the background.
You can customise the graphical user interface (GUI - what you see on screen) by using TweakUI, a free downloadable program of Power Tools from Microsoft. For the more adventurous, there are clear instructions on how to edit the registry (if you've got the nerve). I didn't realise just how customisable the whole of the XP desktop is. He shows you where to find free downloadable editing tools and where to locate files within XP that allow you to change skins, graphics, wallpaper, and colours to suit your own design. You can also change the way Windows Explorer displays files - though he doesn't mention an incredibly useful tip I discovered the other day. Choose View/Arrange icons by/Name to see an alphabetical list, but then also select the 'Show in groups' option to see the list arranged in clusters by letter order. It makes finding files really easy. Try it. Another useful feature (though only available in XP Pro) is the ability to encrypt files and folders, and you might also want to take advantage of the ability to host web sites and use your machine as an FTP server. Most people will be happy with tips on how to free up more hard disk space by using NTFS file compression, but for those worried about privacy and security, there are lots of hacks on surfing anonymously, blocking cookies and pop-ups, using proxy servers, and installing free firewalls. There's an entire chapter devoted to networking, including how to locate and take advantage of free wireless networks which now exist in most big cities and their suburbs. The same goes for email. He explains how to get rid of Spam and how to configure Outlook Express so that you have more control over what you do with it and what it will let you see. Two of the chapters I found most useful were on basic utilities and applications. These cover defragmenting your hard disk, backing up data, taking screenshots, and using the full resources of the Messenger Service. His formula is the same in each case: he shows you how to do this in XP (whilst explaining any of its shortcomings) then how to do it better using third-party freeware and shareware programs. There are also excellent basic tips on maximising the performance of your system, dealing with multimedia (CD and video burning) and using the system recovery tools. I've already run some of these hacks and seen the improvement immediately. Next I might even muster up the courage to open that Registry. It's a great technical manual. © Roy Johnson 2004 [more TECHNICAL books] Preston Gralla, Windows XP Hacks, 2nd edn, Sebastopol: O'Reilly, 2005, pp.548, ISBN 0596009186
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