Disable Explorer Thumbnail ViewIf you want disable the Explorer's ability to show the Thumbnail View ,Start RegeditGo to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced \Change ClassicViewState to 1Close regeditDisable Shared DocumentsTo disable the Shared Documents folder that shows up on the networkStart RegeditGo to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer \Create a new DWORD ValueGive it the name NoSharedDocumentsGive it a value of 1Log off or rebootRemoving Thumbs.db FilesWhen viewing a folder with the Thumbnail view, WindowsXP creates a thumbs.db file.This is a cache of the current pictures in that directory.If you want to turn this feature off and save a little disk spaceStart the Windows ExplorerGo to Tools / Folder Options / ViewIn the first section under Files and Folders, check Do not cache thumbnailsNow you can search for the thumbs.db file on your computer and remove them. No more should be created.Enable / Disable the Task ManagerStart RegeditGo to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\SystemCreate the Dword value DisableTaskMgrGive it a value of 0 to enable itGive it a vaule of 1 to disable itClearing the Page File on ShutdownAnother way to set the computer to clear the pagefile without directly editing the registry is:Click on the Start buttonGo to the Control PanelAdministrative ToolsLocal Security PolicyLocal PoliciesClick on Security OptionsRight hand menu - right click on "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"Select "Enable"RebootIf you want to clear the page file on each shutdown:Start RegeditGo to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\ClearPageFileAtShutdownSet the value to 1No GUI BootIf you don't need to see the XP boot logo,Run MSCONFIGClick on the BOOT.INI tabCheck the box for /NOGUIBOOTUsing the Classic Search in ExplorerIf you prefer to use the classic search style in Explorer,Start RegeditGo to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetStateAdd a String Key called Use Search AsstGive it a value of 'no'Changing the Registered OwnerStart RegeditHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersionFrom there you can edit the name in the Registered Owner keyChanging Drive LettersIf you want to change the letters assigned to your fixed or removable drives:Right Click on My ComputerSelect ManageSelect Disk ManagementFor a Fixed Disk:Select itRight clickSelect Change Drive Letter and PathClick on the Edit buttonEnter in the letter you want to useFor a Removable Disk:In the lower, right hand panel, right click on the Disk or CD ROM #Select Change Drive Letter and PathClick on the Edit buttonEnter in the letter you want to useDecreasing Boot TimeMicrosoft has made available a program to analyze and decrease the time it takes to boot to WindowsXP.The program is called BootVis Uncompress the file.Run BOOTVIS.EXEFor a starting point, run Trace / Next Boot + Driver DelaysThis will reboot your computer and provide a benchmarkAfter the reboot, BootVis will take a minute or two to show graphs of your system startup.Note how much time it takes for your system to load (click on the red vertical line)Then run Trace / Optimize SystemRe-Run the Next Boot + Drive DelaysNote how much the time has decreasedHide/Unhide Logon NamesIf you want to hide or unhide the names of users that are displayed on the initial logon screen:Start RegeditGo to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserListAdd a DWORD with the name of the user account you want to hideMake sure it has a value of 0If there is an existing account, you can unhide it by giving it a value of 1WindowsXP Command Line UtilitiesWhile there are a lot of command line utilities in WindowsXP, here are some of thembootcfg - Configures, queries, or changes Boot.ini file settings.driverquery - Displays a list of all installed device drivers and their properties.getmac - Returns the media access control (MAC) address and list of network protocols associated with each address for all network cards in each computergpresult - Displays Group Policy settings and Resultant Set of Policy (RSOP) for a user or a computernetsh - You can use commands in the Netsh Interface IP context to configure the TCP/IP protocoschtasks - Schedules commands and programs to run periodically or at a specific timesysteminfo - Displays detailed configuration information about a computer and its operating system.Creating an Automated Install of WindowsXPOn the WindowsXP CP, in the SUPPORT\TOOLS directory,there is a file called DEPLOY.CAB.Extract the programs DEPLOY.CHM (help file) and SETUPMGR.EXE (main program)Run SETUPMGR and answer the prompts.This will create both a unattend.bat and unattend.txt file you can use for automated installs.Note: The batch file might need some minor modification for file locations but it is fairly basic.Disabling HibernationIf you don't want to use up the disk space taken by Hibernation, or don't need to use it at all,you can easily disable it.Open up the Control Panel / Power Options iconClick on the Hibernation iconUncheck Enable HibernationIncreasing System PerformanceIf you have 512 megs or more of memory, you can increase system performanceby having the core system kept in memory.Start RegeditGo to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\DisablePagingExecutiveSet the value to be 1Reboot the computerCommon Command Console UtilitiesWindowsXP comes with quite a few console utilities you can easily run from the command line:Computer Management - compmgmt.mscDisk Managment - diskmgmt.mscDevice Manager - devmgmt.mscDisk Defrag - dfrg.mscEvent Viewer - eventvwr.mscShared Folders - fsmgmt.mscGroup Policies - gpedit.mscLocal Users and Groups - lusrmgr.mscPerformance Monitor - perfmon.mscResultant Set of Policies - rsop.mscLocal Security Settings - secpol.mscServices - services.mscComponent Services - comexp.msc