Add “Copy To Folder” & “Move To Folder” In Right-Click Menu

To do so, follow the steps given below:

• Goto Start-->Run. Type regedit and press enter.
• Navigate to
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers.
• It tells you it's a shell extension key that lets you customize the user shell or the interface.
• Create a new key called Copy To.
• Set the value to {C2FBB630-2971-11d1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}.
• Create another new key called Move To.
• Set the value to {C2FBB631-2971-11d1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}.
• Exit the Registry. The changes take effect immediately.
• The Copy To Folder and Move To Folder options will appear when you right-click a file and choose one of the options, you'll be able to move or copy the file using a dialog box.
• Done!!!

Turn Off Window Animation

You can shut off the animation displayed when you minimize and maximize Windows. Open Registry Editor and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control panel \Desktop\WindowMetrics. Create a new string value MinAnimate. Set the value data of 0 for Off or 1 for On.

Add Any program Of Your Choice In The Right Click Menu

When you right click on any folder, you can have access to that application, the same as using Send To and New. To add an application of your choice you need to follow the steps given below:

• Goto Start-->Run.
• Open Registry Editor by typing regedit and press enter.
• Navigate and choose: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell.
• Add a new Key to the Shell Key and name it anything you like. Give it a default value that will appear when you right click a folder, i.e. NewKey (use an & in front of any character and it will allow you to use the keyboard).
• Navigate and click on the registry key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\NewKey.
• Now you have to add a New Key named Command and Set the (Default) value of the application you want to run.
• For example: c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe (Include the full path)

Write Any Text Of Your Choice Besides The Clock Instead Of "AM "& "PM"

You can add any text you like that consists of 8 characters or less besides the clock on the start menu bar. This will replace the AM or PM next to the system time. Do not use this tip if you are using any software during the trial period as it will corrupt the trial license. To add the text of your choice follow the steps given below:

• Goto Start-->Run. Type regedit and press enter.
• Navigate to the following registry key: KEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\International.
• Add two new String values, "s1159" and "s2359".
• Most probably those keys will be already present. If it is not there then create them.
• Right click the value name and modify.
• Enter anything you like up to 8 characters.
• If you enter two different values when modifying, you can have the system tray display the two different values in the AM and PM.

Save Folder Setting Preferences

Sometimes when we customize a folder and upon restarting we realize that the changes haven't been saved. In some cases the settings work for few days and then XP forgets it. Ever wondered why this happens? Well, this is due to that fact that Windows XP remembers the settings for only 400 folders, by default. When you customize more folders the old settings are lost. To prevent Windows XP forgetting the folder customization, we can increase the limit till 8000 (which is the upper limit). Set the BagMRU Size to 6000 (Decimal) in the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam Let me remind you that the value that we set is in Decimal and not hex.

Make Your Windows Shutdown Fast

To enable fast shutdown open the registry editor. (Start-->Run-->Regedit) and go to the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Shutdown. Create a string key called FastReboot and give it a value of 1.

Remove The Log Off Button From The Start Menu

To remove the Log Off button from your Start Menu do the following registry tweak. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Create a new DWORD value and name it NoLogOff. Now add the value 1 to the key. You

need to logoff or reboot for the settings to take effect.

Learn To Backup and Restore Your Registry

To take BACKUP of your registryl in Windows XP you need to follow the steps given below:

• To get this utility go to: Start-->Programs-->Accessories-->System Tools-->Backup.
• The wizard will launch, then click next.
• Choose BACKUP FILES AND SETTINGS and click next.
• Choose LET ME CHOOSE WHAT TO BACKUP and click next.
• Expand the section for MY COMPUTER (click the minus sign next to it) and place a check mark in the box next to SYSTEM STATE DATA.
• Add the drive containing XP or at least the WINDOWS folder.
• However this does add considerable time and size to the backup and click next .
• Now choose a place to store the info and name it.
• If you are proficcient, you may choose a different type of backup by using the advanced tab.
• And with this you are through with taking the backup of your registry!!!

Now let us see how to restore the backed up registry in case of an emergency:

• Goto Start-->Programs-->Accessories-->System Tools-->Backup.
• The wizard will launch, now click on the ADVANCED button.
• Click on the RESTORE WIZARD button.
• Click next on the following screen.
• Choose the backup you want.
• Follow the remaining screens.
• Done!!!

Note:{For Windows XP Home Edition users}

Most probably you won't see the Backup option in Windows XP Home. Put the XP CD in the drive and exit out of the screen that pops up. Go to My Computer and Right Click on the Drive containing the XP CD. Choose Explore. Now click on the following file: VALUEADD MSFT NTBACKUP NTBACKUP Installer.

Create Shutdown Timer

There are two methods to do so. Follow the steps given below to create a auto shutdown timer:

Method 1:

• Right click on an empty area on your desktop and navigate to new-->shortcut.

• Now type shutdown -s -t 3600 in a box that says "Type the location of the shortcut".

• Note: Here 3600 is the time in seconds after which the PC will Shutdown. So, 3600sec=60min*60sec.

• Click Next and type the name you want to give to the shortcut and click finish.

• Now if you want to abort the above activated timer, again create a new shortcut by following the first step and then type shutdown -a in the box that says "Type the location of the shortcut".

• Click Next and the Finish.

Method 2:

• In this method you need to goto Start-->Run.

• Now in the run command, type Code: at hh:mm shutdown -s where hh:mm is the time at which you want to shutdown your PC. For eg.: If you need to shutdown your PC at 14:30 hrs, you need to type Code: at 14:30 shutdown -s.

• To abort the above timer goto Start-->Run and type Code:shutdown -a.

Simplify Copy & Paste Operations In Windows XP

Copying and pasting in Windows XP is simple enough—but how would you like to make it even easier? Teach some old keys new tricks and simplify the copy and paste process in both Professional and Home versions.
Do you spend a lot of time on your Windows XP machine researching IT-related topics on the Internet? If so, chances are that you probably spend time copying text from interesting Web sites and then pasting that text into word processing documents for later reference. That's four separate keyboard strokes—[Ctrl]C to copy and [Ctrl]V to paste—each time you want to save snippets of text. Wouldn't it be nice if you could reduce each operation to a single keystroke? Well, you can!
If you have a Microsoft keyboard that provides a special set of buttons across the top, you can use the IntelliType software to reassign any of the special buttons to perform the copy and paste operations.
Here's how.
1. Download and install the most current version of the IntelliType software for your keyboard from the Microsoft Hardware site. (This step is optional because the IntelliType software you have installed will allow you to reassign the special buttons.)
2. Access the Control Panel and double-click the Keyboard icon to display the Keyboard Properties dialog box.
3. Select the Key Settings tab, choose a key in the list, and click the Edit button to launch the Reassign A Key wizard.
4. Select the Choose From A List Of Commands option button in the Custom section and click Next.
5. In the Select A Command From The List scrolling list box, select the Copy command and click Finish.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 and assign another key to the Paste command.
7. When you return to the Keyboard Properties dialog box, click OK.

Create A Password Reset Disk

Here's an important tip… If you are using a password protected user account in Windows XP (and you really, really should be ) you might be nervous about forgetting your password. Well here's a way to put your mind at ease, at least a little bit. Windows XP allows users to create a password reset disk specific to their user account. This disk can be used at the welcome screen to reset your password in the event that you do forget it.
To create the disk:
Go to start\control panel\user accounts. Select the account you are currently logged in as. Under the 'related tasks' heading in the top left corner, click 'prevent a forgotten password' to open the forgotten password wizard. Insert a blank floppy disk and follow the instructions to create your password reset disk.
To use the password reset disk in case of emergency:
Once you have created a password reset disk for a specific user, the next time the password for that user is entered incorrectly at the welcome screen, a message will pop up asking if you have forgotten your password. At this point you can elect to use your password reset disk. Follow the instructions to reset your password.
Note: There are a couple of possible problems with the above procedure. For one, if you have used Windows XP's built in encryption feature to encrypt some of your files and folders, but have not yet updated to service pack 1, do not reset your password, as you will lose access to all the encrypted data. Once you have got service pack 1, it is safe to use the disk. Also, you cannot gain access to the reset feature if you have disabled the welcome screen on XP by using tip #31 above.
Keep your reset disk in a safe location, because anyone else can also use it to reset your password...

Disable Windows Messenger At Windows Start-Up

If you don't want MSN Messenger to start at startup simply logon to your account and

go to tools --> options to disable it. If you don't have an account, as it won't let you change the options without first logging on to an account. Click on the Start-->Run and type in regedit, then go to, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\Run Delete the key that says, MSMSGS - REG_SZ - "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background

Add The Administrative Tools Icon To The Desktop

To do so, first go to Start-->Run.
Type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor. In Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current
Version\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace. Create the following key: {D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153} (just copy/paste, including the brackets). Close Registry Editor. There is no need to reboot. Just wait a few seconds and see how the icon appears.