Speed Up Browsing

When you connect to a web site your computer sends information back and forth.
Some of this information deals with resolving the site name to an IP address, the
stuff that TCP/IP really deals with, not words. This is DNS information and is
used so that you will not need to ask for the site location each and every time
you visit the site. Although Windows XP and Windows XP have a pretty efficient DNS
cache, you can increase its overall performance by increasing its size. You can do
this with the registry entries below:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache\Parameters]
"CacheHashTableBucketSize"=dword:00000001
"CacheHashTableSize"=dword:00000180
"MaxCacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000fa00
"MaxSOACacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000012d

Make a new text file and rename it to dnscache.reg. Then copy and paste the above
into it and save it. Merge it into the registry.

Make XP boot even Faster

Microsoft has chosen a completely different path for XP and it's boot
features by trying to incorporate as much support for newer fastboot BIOSes that
are on most current motherboards. They built XP in such a way as to make it able
to take advantage of features in these new BIOSes, and one of the coolest things
is a small application called bootvis. bootvis.

Bootvis watches everything that loads at boot time, from the moment the OS
begins to load just after POST (Power On Self-Test) to the moment you get to a
usable Desktop. Some programs, most notably Norton AntiVirus 2002, suck up
valuable seconds before you can actually DO anything even though you're at the
Desktop. bootvis generates a trace file that you load and can then "see" a visual
representation of what's happening. Every file, driver, hard drive read/write,
etc., is recorded. You can then use bootvis to optimize the loading of files
during the boot sequence. bootvis will rearrange the ways these very files are
stored on the hard drive, thereby improving the boot time dramatically.

Change The Taskbar Group Size

By default taskbar grouping will happen when you have three or more of the same
program windows open. We have found the registry key to change the settings so
that, if you prefer, Windows XP will wait till you open even more of the same
program windows before they start to group. Here is an overview of Taskbar
Grouping first:

Overview

The taskbar can become crowded with buttons when you are working with multiple
programs at the same time. For this reason, Windows provides a feature to help you
manage a large number of open documents and program items. The taskbar button
grouping feature works in two ways. First, taskbar buttons for documents opened by
the same program are always displayed in the same area of the taskbar so you can
find your documents easily.
Second, if you have many documents open in the same program, Windows combines all
the documents into one taskbar button that is labeled with the name of the
program. A triangle on the right side of the button indicates that many documents
are open in this program. The single button provides access to all the open
documents. To access one of the open documents, click the triangle on the taskbar
button, and then click a document name in the list. To act on all the open
documents at the same time, use the right-click menu. For example, right-clicking
the triangle gives you a menu that lets you close all the open documents.

The Tip

Click here to download the registry key to enable user defined grouping. It's
currently set at 3, if you want to change this number open the .reg file in
notepad and edit the line:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"TaskbarGroupSize"=dword:00000003

Change this to whatever number you wish explorer to group at. i.e. change it to
dword:00000008 if you wanted explorer to group on 8, or dword:00000005 if you want
explorer to group on 5. Save the file after editing to the number and then click
on the file you have edited. It will ask you if you want to enter this entry into
the registry, click yes. You will then be notified if the key has been added to
your registry correctly.

Password Recovery Disk

Take preventive measures against losing user-level passwords.

It doesn't matter if you never again remember a Windows user password. Thanks
to XP's Forgotten Password Wizard, your conscience will be free and clear --
should your mind happen to accidentally misplace your user password.

I highly suggest you create a password recovery disk the minute you create
your user account. Why? In order to create a password recovery disk you're going
to need your password. Write it down the minute you create your user account and
then proceed to creating your very own password recovery disk.

Here's how to launch the Forgotten Password Wizard:

Single-click Start menu, Control Panel, and User Accounts.

Click your user account name.
Under Related Tasks on the left, click "Prevent forgotten password" to launch
the wizard.

Now that you've launched the wizard, let it walk you through creating the
recovery disk. Make sure the disk you use is formatted and in the drive. After
it's finished creating the disk, label it and stash it away for an emergency.

If you happen to forget your password, all you need to do is click your user
icon at the logon screen. Even though you don't have your password, go ahead and
click the green arrow just like you would to finish logging on to your computer.
This will launch a little yellow dialog box directing you to use your password
recovery disk.