Please read the WinXP tutorial, by "Emulators Online" FIRST before doing anything.
http://www.pchell.com/support/removemessenger.shtml
http://www.winguides.com/registry/category.php/67
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_tips_rc1.asp
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,109364,pg,1,00.asp
disable windows update -
go into the control panel, click system, click automatic update,
and uncheck the option.
(Note#1: Check update @ http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/)
(Note#2: To undo, re-check the option)
disable ICQ auto update -
Locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mirabilis\ICQ\DefaultPrefs
Data Type: String value
Value Name: Auto Update
Value Data: "Yes" or "No"
disable yahoo messenger auto update -
locate & rename yupdater.exe to something else, such as _yupdater.exe
(Note#1: you have to re-do the process when messenger is upgraded)
(Note#2: To undo, rename the file back to yupdater.exe)
disable RealOne Player auto update -
should be found in the Tools -> Preferences section, then
uncheck any auto update related checkboxes.
(Note: To undo, re-check them back)
blocking certain websites from Real -
1). real.com
2). www.real.com
3). realmedia.com
4). www.realmedia.com
5). home.real.com
6). guide.real.com
7). realnetworks.com
8). www.realnetworks.com
disable Windows Media Player auto update -
Locate the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer
and add the following:
Name: DisableAutoUpdate
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 00000001
(To undo, delete the key)
disable msn messenger auto update -
Locate the registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client
and add the following:
Name: PreventAutoUpdate
Data Type: DWORD
Value: (1 = enable restriction, 0 = default)
(Note: To undo, delete the key or set the value to 0)
remove ad from msn messenger (make sure msn messenger is closed) -
(Note: Enable Spybot S&D to block threats first if you choose to re-download!)
Method 1:run the patch downloaded from:
http://www.etplanet.com/download/msn.shtm
Method 2:
1). Open hex editor
2). From File, open msnmsgr.exe
3). Address -> Goto -> (select hexadecimal) -> E5E61
4). replace 74 with EB
5). reopen msn messenger
disable winamp auto update -
should be found in the Options -> Preferencess section, then
uncheck any auto update related checkboxes.
(Note: To undo, re-check them)
remove ads and banners from ICQ2000b -
run the patch downloaded from:
http://www.etplanet.com/download/icq.shtm
(Note: Enable Spybot S&D to block threats first if you choose to re-download!)
remove ads and banners from ICQ2003b -
Locate C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\hosts
and add the line: 127.0.0.1 ar.atwola.com at the bottom
(Note#1: check www.icq-4u.com for more details)
(Note#2: To undo, remove the line from HOSTS)
remove ads from yahoo messenger -
Locate HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Yahoo\Pager\yurl
add the following:
String value: Chat Adurl, Chat Transition Ad, Conf Adurl, Calendar Alert Ad URL,
Change Room Banner, IMVironment Ad URL, Mail Alert Ad URL,
News Alert Ad URL, Personals Alert Ad URL, Webcam Viewer Ad
Go to Modify-> add any picture files you like
(Note: To undo, delete the key)
disable WSH (for execution of VBScript files) -
1) Log on as Administrator
2) My Computer -> Open -> (In 'My Computer' window) View -> Options
-> File Types > VBScript Script File -> Remove -> Yes
(Note: To undo, there are 3 possible ways
(a) Go back there, and try to add it back.
(b) download noscript.exe
(c) Try using WinXP CD to do the restoration work )
Alternate (or extra) method: My Computer > Folder Options > File Types > VBScript Script File
> Delete > OK
disable Balloon Tips-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Add:
DWORD = EnableBalloonTips
Value = 0
remove windows messenger -
Start -> Run -> "RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\inf\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove"
To hide window messenger in Outlook Express -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
New DWord value -> Hide Messenger
value = 2
Disabling the window messenging service -
1). Start -> Run -> type "services.msc" OR Control Panel -> "Administrative Tools" -> "Services"
2). right click on "Messenger" and select "Stop" ->
right click on "Messenger" again and select "Properties" -> Under "Startup Type"
choose "Disabled" -> "OK"
disable Wireless Zero Configuration -
Run -> msconfig -> disable it under the Services tab
adding verbosestatus -
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
Dword value = verbosestatus
value = 1 (to enable)
Remove MSN Gaming Zone -
Add or Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Windows Components -> Accessories and Utilities ->
Games -> Internet Games (Uncheck it) -> Delete the folder in Safe Mode
Decrease shutdown time -
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Set "WaitToKillAppTimeout" to anything
Disable Search Assistant -
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState
String value = Use Search Asst
value = no
show Admin account login screen ALWAYS -
HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList
add the following:
Value name: Administrator
Data Type: DWORD
Value data: 1=enable, 0=disable
Change IE skins -
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
value: Backbitmap = imagine on windows tool bar
value: BackBitmapIE6 = image on IE tool bar
value: BrandBitmap = big animated logo IE uses when/if it needs to
value: SmBrandBitmap = small animated logo IE uses, usually the default one
value: BigBitmap = big static image to be displayed when IE is inactive
value: SmallBitmap = small static image to be displayed when IE is inactive
Data: C:\your_bitmap.bmp (string)
Re-enable VBScript -
VBScript Script File
Actions: &Edit
Application used to perform action - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Notepad.exe %1
check "Use DDE"
Application: Notepad
Topic: System
&Open
App used to perform action - C:\WINDOWS\System32\WScript.exe "%1" %*
check "Use DDE"
Application: WScript
Topic: System
&Print
App used to perform action - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Notepad.exe /p %1
check "Use DDE"
Application: Notepad
Topic: System
Open &with Command Prompt
App used to perform action - C:\WINDOWS\System32\CScript.exe "%1" %*
check "Use DDE"
Application: CScript
Topic: System
check "Confirm open after download"
Win XP Admin Account -
Everyone on XP Home, by default, has Administrator privileges and the User name is "Owner."
If one person knows that then so does everyone else on the planet!
Change the name and password your account.
How?
Start | Control Panel | User Accounts | Choose "Owner" | Select "Change my name."
Also, you should (MUST) place a password on your account.
How?
Start | Control Panel | User Accounts | Choose "Owner" (or what ever account you named it above) --> Select "Create a password."
That's it
(Note: Reference @ http://www.uksecurityfocus.com/husdg/windowsxp/renameadmin.htm,
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=279783 )
Delete temp folder upon startup -
have a copy of the file cleanXP.bat (from your bckup CD or from www.geocities.com/wwf_tomie16),
then copy it to the startUp folder.
Delete the Links folder from Favourites -
1). HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
2). Look for the key "LinksFolderName", and delete the value "Links".
3). Delete the folder "Links" from Favourites.
power management -
1) Standby mode
2) Suspend-to-Disk mode (STD)
3) Suspend-to-RAM mode (STR)
They should be able to be configured under Control Panel. Try to find where Power Management
is. They can also be configured using BIOS, but it's not recommended.
Practices -
1) Get at least TWO anti-spyware softwares, such as Spybot & Ad-aware,
and probably SpywareBlaster as well.
(1.1) Perform scan and check for updates at least once a week
(1.2) In addition, get CWShredder @ www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
2) Get at least one antivirus software, such as Avast; and optionally,
at least one online virus scanner, such as TrendMicro @
http://housecall.trendmicro.com
(2.1) Perform scan and check for updates at least once a week
(some softwares will have automatic updates)
3) Keep a log of what has been disable/enabled
4) Create restore point(s) before installing anything
5) Disable System Restore when suspecting virus or spyware threats,
which you'll scan for, and remove if possible. You can re-enable
System Restore once you're certain that your PC becomes clean.
6) Perform bckup at least once a month. The most convenient way is
to keep an installation file for each software, and keep a zipped
version of non-softwares (such as picture or doc files).
7) Do not login as Adminstrator unless it is absolutely necessary.
8) Perform disk cleanup at least once a week.
9) Perform ScanDisk, followed by Disk Defragmenter every two weeks.
10) Run System File Checker every two weeks.
11) Remove any unnecessary windows components.
12) Check for windows updates once a week. Look for "critical updates" first, which
will fix the most serious holes. Wait for a week or two after SPs and patches come out.
Recommend to get patches with uninstallers.
Do not choose the automatic windows update option.
(Note: patches for realplayer can be found @ http://service.real.com/realplayer/security/
However, realplayer is known to have spywares. Any site associated with it is not
guaranteed to be safe, so visit that website at your own risk!)
13) Turn off any unneeded services.
14) There is an issue of random connection drops for the wireless network. This has
nothing to do with the router. The problem comes from the Wireless Zero Configuration
in Windows services (run -> type "services.msc" without quotes). Go to D:\WRT54GS\Help
for more details. It has been claimed that Microsoft is aware of the problem and might
provide a fix soon.
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