Topic awaiting preservation: Computer tips ?

Following on from Wes's post about disabling windows auto reboot http://www.ozoneasylum.com/25828 i thought it may be a good idea for us to share our own personal hints and tips for better computer management, but before anyone says " It's simple, get a MAC", i already thought of that. lol.

When i first install an operating system (normally Windows XP), the first thing i tend to do is disable the 'Messanger Service' to prevent those annoying spam windows intruding my desktop.

START | CONTROL PANEL | ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS | SERVICES | locate the MESSANGER service and RIGHT CLICK | PROPERTIES | and the select DISABLE from the STARTUP TYPE dropdown

This will prevent those annoying windows popups from appearing .

No Sig ?

There is one tip that many people don't do or know.
Even once you have disabled/changed or otherwise altered things. Get in the habit of going back and checking to make sure these changes are still as they should be. There are some websites out there that run very nasty code in them, and even if you are not using IE as your browser, the code can still be launched. And it can (and will) alter settings and do nasty things to your system.
So keep an eye on your Windows box, and make sure things don't change that shouldn't. If you can't remember it all use the paper and pencil (you know, that pointy stick that makes marks) method to make a list.

A quicker route to services:

You can also access Computer Management for services, event logs, disk management, Device Manager, etc. by right-clicking on My Computer in XP, and selecting 'Manage' from the context menu.

(Edited by White Hawk on 05-21-2005 20:40)

Here's a little GUI trick I learned somewhere and now use all the time in XP:
(I'm not sure if it works in 2000)

If, like me, you don't have any use for your Links toolbar, you can try the following for a neat desktop menu system (a la Mac, perhaps) to compliment your Windows environment.

First of all, right-click on your taskbar. From the context menu, navigate to 'Toolbars > Links' and make sure it is ticked, enabling Links as part of your Taskbar.

If your toolbars are locked (i.e. no manipulation tabs on toolbars) just right-click on your taskbar again and untick 'Lock the Taskbar'. You can change this back when finished, just to keep things neat.

Now drag it free from the taskbar (by grabbing the tab at the left edge of the toolbar with a left click) right to the top of the screen and let it drop. It will dock to the top edge. You can remove the 'Links' label by right-clicking on the new toolbar and unticking 'Show Title'. Right-click again and tick 'View > Small Icons'.

Now right-click on it again and select 'Open'. Delete the existing rubbish in the Links folder and create new folders called Apps, Games, Media, etc (or whatever sorting system you prefer). You can place shortcuts to all your favorite applications and functions in these folders (links, if you like ).

The context menu options 'Always on top' and 'Auto-hide' may be enabled to taste. I find 'Auto-hide' to be a little annoying with full-screen apps, just like the Taskbar, so I rarely enable it.

Now, something unique to the Links toolbar is that folders open into menu-style drop-downs when clicked, like this:

^click^
Note: that isn't a shortcut to Control Panel on the toolbar, but a folder with shortcuts to every control panel applet in it. Shortcuts always open to windows, but folders in the Links toolbar are treated like menus.

As you can see, it is easy to customise. This is my laptop screen, but my desktop PC even has a little rainbow apple in the top left as a quick shutdown menu (using an apple-icon for the folder and creating shortcuts to the command-line tool SHUTDOWN.EXE).

The only annoying thing is that the toolbar remains un-skinned, but I think this only enhances the menubar style of it.

More on the way...

(Edited by White Hawk on 05-21-2005 22:17)

The following Windows XP Home and Professional Service Pack 2 Service Configurations originated at www.BlackViper.com:

quote:

---

Disabling all of the "unneeded services" frees up 12-70 MB of RAM, depending on system.

Do you mean that out of 87 (Home), 96 (Pro) services, 32 (Home), 34 (Pro) are set to Automatic as DEFAULT, but, we MAY only need 6 running?!? YES.

---

Unfortunately as someone here recently noted blackviper is 'under construction.' Hopefully it's not gone forever.

Fortunately I have a PDF of the file. Unfortunately I have only ISP space..which likely wouldn't handle the hits... SO.. if someone here is willing to host the file I'll email to you and you can put it up.

I offer these abridged quotes to 'tantalize' and later
show results of tweaks I made just a few hours ago after a clean install of xp home and all software some 2 months ago.

Another 'unfortunately' is that because blackviper is not up and running 'some' of the links in the pdf are not available. For example the 'why' is not available in the following:

quote:

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Do NOT use "msconfig" to disable services, type "services.msc" in the Run box
instead! (WHY?)

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BUT! Should the pdf be made available you MUST start as instructed.

Three configurations are offered.

quote:

---

"SAFE" Configuration ~ This is the configuration that 95% of the people will be able to use with little or no side effects. It will also minimizes the amount of "errors" that is reported in the Event Viewer. This does not guarantee it will work for you, but if adjusting your services scares you, this configuration would be a good starting point.

Power User Configuration ~ This is the power user setup. A great way to test this setup is here. This setup is a system that connects through a network (such as a gateway / router) to the internet, provides file and print sharing resources and gaming enjoyment. Some things may not function with this setup. No passwords save. Its use is not for a computer with analog modems or some direct DSL/cable connections. Try the "Safe" Configuration first.

Bare Bones Configuration ~ This is the super geek setup. A great way to test this setup is here. This setup is a system that connects through a network (such as a gateway / router) to the internet with a static IP address. This system does not provide file and print sharing resources, nor have the ability to print. Its use is not for a computer with analog modems or many direct DSL/cable connections. You can use this configuration for extreme tweaking and testing purposes. Many things may not function with this setup. No passwords save.

---

Now my results. You have to understand that I'm running old technology. 800 celeron 458mg ram. So anything I can do to speed up this old tired dog... I do.

Via taskmanager the 'Performance' Tab

BEFORE TWEAKING
------------
Totals
Handles: 6271
Threads: 308
Process: 35

Physical Memory(K)
Total: 458xxx
Available: 163xxx
System Cache: 237612

Committ Charge(K)
Total: 204096
Limit: 1083068
Peak: 217948

Kernel Memory(K)
Total: 53976
Paged: 40972
Nonpaged 13004
------------------

AFTER TWEAKING

---------------
Totals
Handles: 4980
Threads: 251
Process: 30

Physical Memory(K)
Total: 458xxx
Available: 261xxx
System Cache: 24756

Committ Charge(K)
Total: 134324
Limit: 1083068
Peak: 172786

Kernel Memory(K)
Total: 41276
Paged: 3206
Nonpaged: 9272
----------------

Some rather dramatic changes in those numbers most obvious of course, available ram: From 163 to 261. Think I can use that? <lol>

But there are improvements to other numbers in there which in many ways are perhaps even more important....but this isn't the place to explain all that. Besides I can't remember it all. =)


The tweaks I made are somewhere between 'power user' and 'Safe'.. And I'll surely tweak some more.... but there you pretty much have it.... those 'services' are just suckin' the shit out your system.


So if someone wants to host the pdf... post up here with an addie I'll mail it to you.

I can host the pdf at one of my sub-domain. email me at F1_error@outerworldadult.com

The reason that you shouldn't use MSConfig is that it actually requires MSConfig to start with Windows every time it is used, therefore it serves as a temporary diagnostic mode.

To alter startup items in Windows, I'd recommend this Control Panel applet called (funnily enough) Startup Control Panel. It gives you access to all registry and Startup Folder items, allowing you disable or delete their entries. It stores deleted entries under a 'deleted' tab for later disposal or re-instatement.

==This sig has been removed due to inappropriate excellence.==

F1:

Thanks... =) on its way.

Get the Black Viper pdf HERE.

Good luck

getting a "This file is damaged and could not be repaired." error on that pdf, F1



You know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today, so stay with me and I'll have it made (Shannon Hoon)

Seems to work fine for me.

___________________________
Suho: www.liminality.org | Cell 270 | Sig Rotator | the Fellowship of Sup

The pdf is working fine for me. Can you try getting it with a different browser?

An even faster route to the services window? WindowsKey + r to open Run, then run 'services.msc' For ultimate computer management run 'mmc'... this is the Microsoft Management Console, any self-respecting Windows Administrator's (don't laugh, there is such a thing) best friend.


Justice 4 Pat Richard

Which is quicker than RClick>Click how? :P

Don't run this JavaScript like I did once...tried it just to see what would happen and screwed up the computer.

foo = pi.toString

document.write(foo.length)

this post will self-destruct in 10...

pi is not defined. You certainly mean Math.PI
And it didn't screw my computer ( tried with FF and IE )

Ok, now i am really confused

Where did all the Pi talk come from ?

No Sig ?

axleclarkeuk: Wikipedia: Pi

[edit] doh! the Grail ate the PI symbol and replaced it by &#289; [/edit]


(Edited by poi on 05-22-2005 20:59)

I'll have some of that pie...

==Why is it when we talk to God, it's called praying
- but when God talks to us, it's called paranoid schizophrenia?!==

Hey White Hawk how did you get that panel on the top of the desktop?

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Deviations | 5464 | My Poetry Cell | My Own Domain | Support and advice needed. Now!
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| "The past will always attack the present with the pain of your memories." - Seiichi Kirima |
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quote:

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axleclarkeuk said:

before anyone says " It's simple, get a MAC", i already thought of that

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It's simple, get a Unix/like OS.

How to get rit off all your computer related problems a simple tutorial.

Step One
Make a hard copy from all your importand documents. Print them out or write them down with pen and paper.

Step Two
Index and file these documents in an sturdy file cabinet.

Step Three
Dump al your video's on vcd or dvd

Step Four
Index and file

Step Five
Dump the music on cd's or cassettes

Step Six
Index and file

Step Seven
Take the time to say goodbye to your beloved one... er ... the one which is plugged in to a wall socket that is.

Step Eight
Repeat Step Seven but this time make shure it's your computer...

Step Nine
Open an window on the highest floor of your house/building/shack

Step Ten
Scream something silly (this is importand for the mourning proces later) and let the machine drop out the window.

Step Ten A
Repeat but put the computer outside the window first.



You can now go back to your happy live whithout all the hassle you had before. You are going to be yourself once again but this time whithout any computer problems. And all this in ten easy steps!

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Support Justice for Pat Richard

(Edited by Rinswind 2th on 05-26-2005 21:06)