Computer tweaks/tips

[Ewan]

My aim for this thread, is to end up with a computer which is quicker and easier to use than it currently is.

When I say tweaks, I don't mean performance tweaks / registry hacks like those found at www.tweakxp.com and within TweakUI. Sure those are welcome in this thread, but bare in mind that's not the main point.

The sort of tweaks I think will make this thread good, are simple things that make life easier, whether it be a 3rd party program or simply using inbuilt windows functions.

I may as well start off with something I picked up from a similar thread elsewhere a while ago..



This is a screenshot of my desktop. Look down to the task bar, you'll notice it's double height with an address bar and a Google bar. Both of these are very useful, as it allows me to search for stuff (or go to a specific website) quickly. (The google bar can be found here). The address bar can be placed on your taskbar by simply right click -> toolbars -> address.

You'll also notice the toolbar at the top of the screen, I don't personally use this feature, as it clutters the desktop too much for my liking (I am on a 15in monitor and the double high taskbar is enough). You can get this by dragging My Computer to the top of the desktop, the toolbar will appear (And don't worry, the My Computer icon stays where it was too). Holding control while clicking on an icon will give you a cascading menu (The best feature of this). So you can get a cascading menu of your C: Drive to easily open a file (As shown in the screenshot).

Another thing I find useful, is the desktop contacts feature in Messenger Plus. (If you download this program, read it when installing, don't just click through "I Agree". At one point you have to click "No, I don't want the sponsor software, just install on its own" or something along those lines. It's perfectly adware/spyware/malware free if you do that). I would have shown them in my screenshot, but it's nearly 4am so none of the contacts I use the feature for are online. It is basically floating box with their name in. (You can set it to show all the time, when set to "online" only or when they are not offline (e.g. away or busy).

Hope you found all this useful, now its your turn to post some stuff.

[gerry]

Tech Support

[Ewan]

This isn't Tech Support at all.

[SaucyKing]

Nice one Ewan. That's how my taskbar is set now.

[Dameon Angell]

I'd like to know how you "Power-Pop the Fat Naturally"

[gerry]

This isn't Tech Support at all.

The minute you start giving step by step instructions, that becomes help, and since it's related to better performance on you computer, I assume that has something to do with technology, hence tech support/help..

[Tone]

Use Chk Disk

Defrag ment your hard drive by typing defrag c: in diagnostic mode

be clear of spyware

be clear of virri

use a registry cleaner to clean obsolete and invalid reg entries

have a minimal amount of programs starting with your computer, if you dont have a program that checks your reg, starup folders, win.ini, and services, then go to start run and type msconfig

if you suffered damage from a trojen or want to check if you did, type sfc /scannow this will have windows check all your system files to see if they are the originals

clean junk files off your computer, not just temp internet files, but all junk files and clear out the index.dat files

clean deleted file data off your computer by over writing ever single bit of free space on your drive with a string

check your services for malware or items you dont need running

defragment pagefile.sys and other untouchable files with a boot time defragment

compact and defragment the registry

clear out mru lists and histories

set windows to force DLLs to unload from memory when the dependant program is closed, and set windows to minimize pagefile use

pure hatred this is not a copy paste, i quote things i paste, i typed this out, shut your mouth----v

[za gophar]

haha there is a v at the end

[ZeUs!!]

pure hatred this is not a copy paste, i quote things i paste, i typed this out, shut your mouth----v

I'd be happy if people accused me of not knowing that stuff

[Tone]

haha there is a v at the end

the V is pointing down to the next post, because i was sure pure hatred was going to be the next post. not Ctrl V

[Edify]

the V is pointing down to the next post, because i was sure pure hatred was going to be the next post. not Ctrl V

you are too paranoid. i'm assuming theres no TWEAKME (millenium ed.) like ur tweakxp.com thing.

[Rab]

My Article:

- Show Desktop Button
Useful for getting rid of a bunch of windows quickly, I use it loads.

- Start Menu
I pin stuff I use regularly to the Start menu, this gets used every day to launch Firefox, Winamp and Continuum. I also have organised icons on my desktop for less important things.

- Pop-out folder view
Take a folder on your desktop and drag it to the edge of your screen. It will appear when you put your mouse over it. I use it as if it's a second start menu.

[Edify]

if u don't want to move ur mouse down to the show desktop button and ur hand is on the keyboard, just press WindowsKey + D for that function. Press it again to make everything come back on.

[suxxor]

ewan, you mentioned being short on desktop space. I was irked by this for a while too, which is why I threw the taskbar on the lefthand side of the screen. for one, your monitor is wider than it is tall. two, your window names don't get more and more truncated the more windows you have open. I can usually get the first five to seven characters of the window name, for some thirty odd windows open at once. I never use that many, but it's nice to have.

the my computer taskbar trick is a nice one.. I use something similar, via the desktop toolbar. you can click on the little >> underneath and get a dropdown menu that will effectively let you get to anything on your desktop, and subfolders therein. network, documents, my computer, all of it. link to a screenie. (it's an old screenshot, but it works) to get it, right click on the taskbar, go to toolbars, pick desktop.

another little incredibly simple trick that I use rather often.. I have my mouse sensitivity set up incredibly high, since I used to have a small mousepad. sometimes it's hard to hit the little X in the corner to close the window. but, if you right-click ANYWHERE on the window's title bar and hit C, it has the exact same effect. at least, for most windows.

I've been using TweakUI since I had '98, and it seems to be recently updated.. so I think I'm gonna go get the new version.