Windows^? XP Timesaving Techniques^TM For Dummies^?, 2nd Edition

by Woody Leonhard (Phuket Island, Thailand); With: Justin Leonhard

• ISBN13: 9780764578830
• ISBN10: 0764578839
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Computers were supposed to save us time, but Windows XP users know how often the opposite seems to be true. What if you could get a list of shortcuts that would save you time every single day? Windows XP Timesaving Techniques For Dummies, 2nd Edition includes 70 of them, great tips and tricks that make Windows work faster, more reliably, and more like the way you work.Collected and tested by Windows guru Woody Leonhard, these timesavers are organized into groups of related tasks so you can quickly find the ones that will help you at any given time. You can set up your desktop and launch your programs in the way that makes sense for you, take back control of the Internet and e-mail, manage your music and visual media, and protect your system in a few simple steps. You'll find no-nonsense advice on Eliminating irritating programs that start automatically Speeding up the restart or shutdown process Streamlining searches, the Start menu, and Outlook Express Strengthening your firewall and zapping scumware Adjusting your monitor to reduce eyestrain Reducing download time for photos Enhancing the performance of your network Making online shopping faster as well as safer Scheduling maintenance chores to run while you sleep From the most basic to somewhat advanced tricks designed for power users, this grocery list of timesavers has something for every Windows XP user- including you!

Author Biography

Woody Leonhard: Curmudgeon, critic, and perennial “Windows Victim,” Woody Leonhard runs a fiercely independent Web site devoted to delivering the truth about Windows and Office, whether Microsoft likes it or not. With up-to-the-nanosecond news, observations, tips and help, AskWoody.com has become the premiere source of unbiased information for people who actually use the products.
In the past decade, Woody has written more than two dozen books, drawing an unprecedented six Computer Press Association awards and two American Business Press awards. Woody was one of the first Microsoft Consulting Partners and is a charter member of the Microsoft Solutions Provider organization. He’s widely quoted — and reviled — on the Redmond campus.

Justin Leonhard: Lives with his dad in Phuket, Thailand. Justin contributed to Windows XP All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies. He frequently helps Woody with various writing projects and keeps the office network going. Justin is an accomplished scuba diver, budding novelist, and the best video game player for miles. He was admitted to Mensa International at the age of 14.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
About This Book	1	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	2	(1)
What's in This Book	2	(2)
Conventions Used in This Book	4	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	5	(2)
Part 1: No-Bull Installation and Setup	7	(34)
Getting the Latest Version of Windows	9	(16)
Installing Service Pack 2	10	(2)
Setting Up Service Pack 2	12	(1)
Recovering from SP2 Problems	13	(1)
Choosing Between XP Home and XP Professional	13	(2)
Upgrading Quickly	15	(6)
In-place upgrades in a snap	16	(1)
Breezing through clean installs	17	(4)
Transferring Files and Settings	21	(4)
Understanding what gets transferred	21	(1)
Choosing storage media for transferring your files	22	(1)
Transferring files and settings on a clean install	22	(1)
Breezing through a transfer	23	(2)
Running the Activation Gauntlet	25	(6)
Understanding Activation, Registration, and Passport	25	(1)
Activating Windows XP the Right Way	26	(2)
Understanding your activation options	26	(1)
Installing an old copy of Windows XP on a new computer	27	(1)
Registering for Fun and Profit	28	(1)
Signing Up for Passport (And Hotmail)	28	(2)
Staying on Top of Privacy Issues	30	(1)
Retrieving Your Product Key	31	(5)
Unlocking the Secrets of the Windows XP Product Key	32	(1)
Locating the Key	32	(1)
Reconstructing the Product Key	33	(1)
Verifying Your Product Key	33	(3)
Installing a Legal Copy of Windows XP over a Bootleg	36	(5)
Nailing Pirate Product Keys	36	(2)
Updating Your Key the Easy Way	38	(1)
Toughing It Out the Hard Way	39	(2)
Part II: Making Windows Lean and Clean	41	(70)
Making Windows Work Faster	43	(14)
Bypassing the Logon Screen	43	(2)
Monitoring System Performance	45	(1)
Eliminating the #1 Bottleneck: Memory Drain	46	(2)
No-Nonsense Tweaking	48	(9)
Using Windows' built-in tweaking tools	48	(2)
Disabling automatic error reporting	50	(1)
Cleaning and defragging your hard drive	50	(2)
Special-purpose tweaks	52	(2)
Fine-tuning Intel systems	54	(3)
Shut Down, Restart, and Switch Users Quickly	57	(4)
Creating a Fast Shut Down Icon	58	(1)
Creating an Icon to Abort a Fast Shut Down	59	(1)
Creating an Icon to Restart Your Computer Quickly	59	(1)
Using Shut Down and Restart Options	59	(1)
Creating an Icon to Switch Users	60	(1)
Saving Time (And Your Eyes) On-Screen	61	(11)
Applying Basic, Vision-Saving Tactics	61	(1)
Understanding How Characters Appear On-Screen	62	(1)
Screen Resolution and Zoom on CRTs	63	(5)
Adjusting resolution settings	64	(2)
Handling refresh rate matters	66	(1)
High-resolution tricks	67	(1)
Fine-Tuning ClearType	68	(1)
Setting Up Multiple Monitors	69	(3)
Stopping a Thief with Your Welcome Screen	72	(8)
Choosing a Branding Approach	72	(1)
Building a Pre-Logon Screen	73	(4)
Bringing the pre-logon screen to life	74	(1)
Adding line breaks to your pre-logon screen	75	(2)
Modifying the Windows Welcome Screen	77	(3)
Rapid Power Passwords	80	(9)
Understanding Password Limitations	80	(1)
Requiring a Password to Log On	81	(1)
Looking at Passwords from a Cracker's Point of View	82	(2)
Choosing a Quick, Strong Password	84	(1)
Changing and Deleting Passwords	85	(2)
Keeping Your Password Alive	87	(2)
Windows Power Management	89	(5)
Understanding the Standards	89	(1)
Using Stand By and Hibernate	90	(1)
Forcing Power Off on Shut Down	91	(1)
Timesaving Settings for Power Users	91	(3)
Keeping Programs from Starting Automatically	94	(8)
Recognizing You Have a Problem	94	(1)
Finding and Eliminating Auto-Starting Programs	95	(5)
Preventing New Auto-Starters	100	(2)
Removing and Reinstalling Programs	102	(9)
Removing Programs Thoroughly	102	(3)
Updating the Add or Remove Programs List	105	(1)
Cleaning Up before a Reinstall	105	(1)
Adding Windows Components	106	(1)
Using Non-Microsoft Replacements	107	(2)
Nixing Windows Messenger (And Other Hidden Programs)	109	(2)
Part III: Convincing Windows to Work Your Way	111	(98)
Streamlining the Start Menu	113	(13)
Navigating the Start Menu	114	(1)
Pinning and Unpinning	114	(4)
Unpinning Internet Explorer and Outlook from the Start menu	114	(2)
Pinning what you like to the Start menu	116	(1)
Creating more room for pinned items	117	(1)
Reining In the All Programs Submenu	118	(4)
Where All Programs comes from	118	(2)
Rearranging the All Programs submenu	120	(2)
Cascading to Save Time	122	(4)
Building a Power Desktop	126	(14)
Desktop Brevity: The Soul of Wit	127	(4)
Cleaning up old icons	127	(1)
Exploring unused desktop shortcuts	128	(1)
Aligning icons	129	(1)
Moving icons so you have more room on the desktop	130	(1)
Adding Other Icons --- Maybe	131	(1)
Avoiding Active Content	131	(1)
Trimming the New Right-Click Menu	132	(2)
Generating One-Click E-Mail	134	(2)
Setting up the e-mail	134	(1)
Improving one-click e-mail	135	(1)
Starting Multiple Programs at Once	136	(2)
Arranging Multiple Windows Side-by-Side	138	(2)
Tricking Out the Taskbar	140	(7)
Customizing the Taskbar	140	(2)
Grouping Windows	142	(2)
Blitzing the Address Bar	144	(1)
Navigating from the Taskbar	145	(2)
Launching Your Most-Used Programs Quickly	147	(6)
Using the Quick Launch Toolbar	147	(1)
Making the Quick Launch Toolbar Appear	148	(1)
Adding Programs to the Quick Launch Toolbar	148	(1)
Making Room for More Programs on the Quick Launch Toolbar	149	(1)
Auto-Hiding the Taskbar	149	(1)
Changing Quick Launch Screen Tips	149	(2)
Opening Documents Quickly	151	(1)
Opening Web Pages Quickly	151	(1)
Adding a Blank E-Mail Message to the Quick Launch Toolbar	152	(1)
Creating New, Template-Based Documents Quickly	152	(1)
Making Programs Run Your Way	153	(5)
Running a Program when Windows Starts	153	(1)
Allowing Other Users to Run Your Programs	154	(1)
Bringing Back Word's Last Document	155	(3)
Using Built-In Keyboard Shortcuts	158	(5)
Shortcuts Everybody Needs	159	(1)
Important Windows Key Combinations	160	(1)
A Grab-Bag of Application Shortcuts	160	(1)
Odds `n' (Sometimes Useful) Ends	161	(2)
Making Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts	163	(12)
Putting Custom Hot Keys to Work for You	163	(1)
Knowing What You Can't Do with Hot Keys	164	(1)
Creating and Organizing Hot Keys	164	(9)
Starting a program with a hot key	165	(1)
Opening a folder with a hot key	166	(2)
Surfing to a Web site with a hot key	168	(1)
Sending e-mail with a hot key	169	(1)
Opening a file with a hot key	170	(1)
Creating new documents with a hot key	171	(1)
Running presentations with a hot key	172	(1)
Undoing Hot Keys	173	(1)
Using Active Words for Expanded Hot Keys	174	(1)
Exploring Effectively	175	(14)
Making Windows Show Filename Extensions	175	(2)
Customizing Explorer for Speed	177	(2)
Seeing all your files and folders	177	(1)
Seeing pathnames in Explorer's title bar	178	(1)
Choosing the Right View	179	(5)
Working with Details view	181	(1)
Returning crucial folders to their original views	182	(1)
Sorting files by group	183	(1)
Setting Folders' Behavior	184	(1)
Copying Files Quickly	185	(1)
Changing Filename Associations	186	(1)
Renaming Files En Masse	187	(1)
Customizing the Open and Save As Dialog Boxes	188	(1)
Finding the Files You Want Fast	189	(10)
Speeding Up Searches	190	(1)
Starting with advanced searches	190	(1)
Nixing the mutt	191	(1)
Engaging Your Brain Before the Search	191	(1)
Running a Simple Advanced Search	192	(1)
Searching for Contents and Metadata	193	(1)
Employing Wildcards	194	(1)
Saving and Reusing Searches	195	(1)
Finding Files That Got Lost	195	(2)
First, don't panic	196	(1)
Second, get determined	196	(1)
Advanced Searching with Copernic	197	(2)
Listing Files Quickly	199	(10)
Getting Started by Fixing a Windows Bug	200	(1)
Showing Directory Listings	201	(3)
Writing a program to show directory listings	202	(1)
Adding the program to the right-click menu	203	(1)
Listing Files by Filename Extension	204	(2)
Printing a File List Automatically	206	(2)
Getting Rid of Listing Entries	208	(1)
Part IV: Making the Most of Internet and E-Mail	209	(72)
Customizing Internet Explorer	211	(18)
Speeding Up IE	211	(7)
Using a blank home page	212	(1)
Showing placeholder pictures	213	(1)
Stopping script debugging	214	(1)
Bumping up the cache	214	(2)
Downloading pages overnight	216	(2)
Finding Uncommon Methods for Common Tasks	218	(3)
Using important IE keyboard shortcuts	218	(1)
Unhijacking the Back button	218	(1)
Creating custom shortcuts from the Address bar	219	(2)
Controlling Favorites --- Directly	221	(1)
Keeping IE under Control	222	(7)
Removing ``saved'' passwords and user names	222	(2)
Untrusting trusted publishers	224	(1)
Checking for add-ons and parasites	225	(1)
Configuring security zones	226	(1)
Riding herd on pop-ups	227	(1)
Overriding the double download inanity	227	(2)
Saving Time with Google	229	(10)
Using the Google Toolbar	230	(4)
Installing the Toolbar	230	(1)
Getting around the Toolbar	231	(1)
Getting the most out of the Toolbar	232	(2)
Using Google Effectively	234	(5)
Saving time with search terms	234	(1)
Using Advanced Search	235	(1)
Viewing the news	236	(1)
Scanning newsgroups	236	(1)
Using the Directory the timesaving way	237	(2)
Locating and Sharing Files on the Internet	239	(7)
Deciding What Files Are Worth Sharing	239	(1)
Understanding How File Sharing Works	240	(2)
Downloading and Installing Shareaza	242	(3)
Finding the Good Stuff	245	(1)
Keeping Messenger in Line	246	(8)
Saving or Shooting the Messenger?	246	(2)
Getting the Skinny on User IDs	248	(1)
Setting Up Your Messenger Account	249	(3)
Making Contact	252	(1)
Using the Fancier Features	253	(1)
Polyglot IMing with Trillian	254	(4)
Weighing Trillian Against the Competition	254	(1)
Installing Trillian	255	(1)
Using Trillian	255	(3)
Streamlining Outlook Express	258	(10)
Arranging Your OE Desktop	258	(2)
Disabling Windows Messenger Automatic Sign-In	260	(1)
Making OE Wait to Send and Receive	260	(1)
Dealing with Read Receipts	261	(1)
Reducing Clutter in Your Contacts List	262	(1)
Using Signatures the Smart Way	262	(1)
Using a Business Card	263	(1)
Organizing Contacts in Folders	264	(1)
Setting Up Outlook Express for More Than One User	264	(2)
Bringing old Identities into the fold	265	(1)
Importing existing messages for a new user	266	(1)
Dealing with E-Mail Attachment Security	266	(1)
Removing the ``You Have Messages'' Notice	267	(1)
Zapping Junk Mail	268	(9)
Understanding Spam	268	(2)
Phishing Phor Phun and Prophit	270	(1)
Avoiding Spammeisters and Phishers	270	(3)
Lurking in Web Beacons	271	(1)
Crawling and trawling	272	(1)
Unsubscribing --- Not!	273	(1)
Fighting Back	273	(4)
Taking spam action	273	(1)
Biting the phishers	274	(1)
Filtering out junk e-mail	274	(3)
Protecting Your Kids	277	(4)
Evaluating Parental Control Software	277	(2)
Going Beyond Parental Control Software	279	(1)
Settling on a Workable Plan	279	(2)
Part V: Optimizing Your Musical Entertainment	281	(28)
Using Windows Media Player	283	(6)
Installing WMP 10	283	(2)
Tweaking WMP	285	(1)
Running WMP	286	(3)
Controlling WMP from the keyboard	288	(1)
No-Nonsense Music Gathering	289	(7)
Adding Music to the Media Library	289	(2)
Making WMP search for music on your hard drive	289	(1)
Adding new songs to the Library	290	(1)
Ripping CDs You Own	291	(5)
Ripping ethics	291	(1)
Choosing a File format and sampling rate	292	(1)
Ripping A to Z	293	(3)
Buying Music on the Web	296	(3)
What's Going On Here?	296	(1)
Sorting through the Stores	297	(1)
So It ``Plays for Sure''?	298	(1)
Tuning In the Radio	299	(3)
Tuning In a Station	299	(3)
Creating Your Own Music CDs	302	(4)
Choosing the Type of CD to Burn	302	(1)
Picking Songs to Go on the CD	303	(1)
Burning the CD or DVD	304	(1)
Dealing with Hard Drive Space Issues	305	(1)
Transferring Music to MP3 Players	306	(3)
Choosing an MP3 Player	306	(1)
Copying Files to an MP3 Player	307	(1)
Keeping Backups	308	(1)
Part VI: Having Fun and Saving Time with Visual Media	309	(46)
Taking Snapshots with a Webcam	311	(4)
Taking the Shot	311	(2)
Setting Up the Shot --- F/11 and Be There	313	(1)
Using Time Delay	313	(2)
Recording Video with a Webcam	315	(4)
Installing Windows Movie Maker 2	315	(1)
Setting Up and Recording a Video	316	(2)
Recovering from a WMM 2 Freeze	318	(1)
Editing Your Home Movies	319	(7)
Understanding the Limitations of WMM	320	(1)
Importing and Combining Clips	320	(2)
Trimming Clips	322	(1)
Using Transitions and Effects	323	(1)
Adding Titles and Credits	324	(1)
Saving the Movie	324	(2)
Managing Pictures from a Digital Camera	326	(7)
Transferring Pictures to Your PC Automatically	326	(3)
Transferring Pictures with Windows Explorer	329	(1)
Using a Camera's Memory Card as a Storage Device on Your PC	330	(3)
Doing More with Your Pics	333	(8)
Putting Your Pic on the Desktop	333	(1)
Using Your Pictures for a Screen Saver Slideshow	334	(1)
Burning Pictures on a CD	335	(2)
Burning a Slideshow on a CD	337	(1)
Recovering Deleted Pictures on Your Camera	338	(3)
Decreasing Picture Download Times	341	(4)
Understanding Digital Pic File Sizes	341	(2)
Changing the Resolution of Pictures	343	(2)
Printing and Posting Pictures	345	(5)
Using the Photo Printing Wizard	345	(3)
Posting Pics on the Web	348	(2)
Using a Scanner Effectively	350	(5)
Getting Your Scanner to Work	350	(1)
Producing Quality Scans	351	(4)
Part VII: Ensuring Peak Network Performance	355	(36)
Installing a Small Network	357	(10)
Putting the Pieces Together	357	(2)
Choosing the right hardware	358	(1)
Pulling cable through your office or house	359	(1)
Locating the hardware	359	(1)
Preparing for the Network Setup Wizard	359	(1)
Running the Network Setup Wizard	360	(3)
Checking the Pieces	363	(1)
Understanding Addresses	364	(3)
IP addresses on the Internet	364	(1)
IP addresses on your local network	364	(1)
Assigning local IP addresses	365	(2)
Securing Your Wireless Network	367	(4)
Running the Wireless Network Setup Wizard	367	(2)
Making Manual Changes	369	(2)
Adding and Configuring a New User	371	(12)
Grasping User Accounts	371	(5)
Recognizing account types	372	(1)
Working with account types	373	(1)
Increasing security with passwords	374	(1)
Using simple, common-sense protection	375	(1)
Creating a New Account	376	(1)
Modifying an Account	377	(2)
Using the Hidden Administrator Account	379	(1)
Hobbling the Guest Account	380	(3)
Sharing Drives and Folders	383	(8)
Keeping File Sharing Simple	383	(2)
Using the Four Levels of Protection	385	(6)
Making a folder Private	387	(1)
Making a folder Administrators Here Only	388	(1)
Making a folder or drive Read Only on the Network	388	(1)
Making a folder or drive Wide Open	389	(2)
Part VIII: Fast Security Techniques	391	(42)
Protecting Your PC from Viruses While You Sleep	393	(8)
Understanding Viruses	393	(5)
Dissecting a virus	394	(2)
Discerning whether your PC's infected	396	(1)
What to do next	397	(1)
Protecting Yourself --- Quickly	398	(1)
Avoiding Hoaxes	399	(2)
Plugging and Unplugging Windows Firewall	401	(8)
Coping with Windows Firewall	402	(2)
Changing Firewall Settings	404	(2)
Constructing a Firewall Lockdown Icon	406	(3)
Building a Better Firewall	409	(8)
Understanding Firewalls	409	(2)
What to Look for in a Software Firewall	411	(1)
Using Windows Firewall	411	(2)
Installing ZoneAlarm	413	(1)
Honing ZoneAlarm	414	(1)
Checking the Logs	415	(2)
Zapping Scumware	417	(3)
What Is Scum?	417	(1)
Knowing When You've Been Slimed	418	(1)
Running Spybot-S&D	418	(1)
Going Beyond Spybot	419	(1)
Canning Adware and Obnoxious Cookies	420	(8)
Understanding Cookies	420	(4)
Gathering information with cookies	421	(1)
Passing information with spy cookies	422	(1)
Combining information with spy cookies	423	(1)
Looking for spy cookies on your PC	423	(1)
Zapping Advertising Junk with Ad-Aware	424	(2)
Using Internet Explorer's Built-In Cookie Catchers	426	(2)
Understanding P3P	426	(1)
Setting Internet Explorer's cookie policy	427	(1)
Checking Your Security Perimeter	428	(5)
Approaching Your Security Perimeter	428	(1)
Running Steve Gibson's ShieldsUp!	429	(1)
Running Microsoft's Baseline Security Analyzer	430	(3)
Part IX: Keeping Your PC Alive	433	(60)
Updating Windows on Your Own Terms	435	(7)
Reining In Windows Update	436	(2)
Downloading the Big Updates	438	(2)
Checking for Small Updates	440	(1)
Retrieving and Installing a Declined Update	441	(1)
Running Disk Chores While You Sleep	442	(9)
Setting Up an Account for Scheduler	442	(4)
Creating a new Scheduler account	443	(1)
Ensuring that your password doesn't expire in Windows XP Professional	444	(1)
Ensuring that your password doesn't expire in Windows XP Home	445	(1)
Hiding your dummy Scheduler account	446	(1)
Running Disk Cleanup Manually	446	(2)
Scheduling Automatic Cleanups	448	(3)
Keeping Your Hard Drive in Shape	451	(7)
Scanning Your Hard Drive	451	(2)
Running Check Disk Automatically	453	(3)
Running Defrag Automatically	456	(2)
Updating Drivers Safely	458	(8)
Understanding Drivers	458	(1)
Choosing Your Drivers Wisely	459	(3)
Reasons (Some good, some bad) for changing drivers	459	(1)
Evaluating driver reliability	460	(2)
Updating a Driver	462	(1)
Rolling Back a Bad Driver	463	(3)
Running Periodic Maintenance	466	(7)
Making Your Maintenance Shopping List	466	(1)
Weekly Cleaning	467	(2)
Vacuuming strategies	467	(1)
Dusting tips	467	(1)
Cleaning screens	468	(1)
Ungunking the mouse	468	(1)
Checking the floppy drive	469	(1)
Monthly Cleaning	469	(1)
Fixing Components As Needed	470	(3)
Cleaning CDs	470	(1)
Recovering from spilled coffee or soda	470	(1)
Pulling out a stuck diskette	471	(1)
Pulling out a stuck CD	472	(1)
Making Backups --- Fast	473	(9)
Understanding XP Home's Backup Limitations	473	(2)
Automated System Recovery	474	(1)
What to do about backup limitations	474	(1)
Manually installing the backup program	474	(1)
Creating a Backup	475	(3)
Scheduling Backups	478	(2)
Restoring a Backup	480	(1)
Alternatives to Windows Backup	480	(2)
Requesting Remote Assistance	482	(5)
Using Remote Assistance Wisely --- Quickly	482	(1)
Coping with Remote Assistance Limitations	483	(1)
Requesting Remote Assistance	484	(1)
Sending a Remote Assistance SOS Using IM	484	(2)
Fine-Tuning Remote Assistance	486	(1)
Getting Help Fast	487	(6)
Exploring the Help and Support Center	487	(2)
Using Help Effectively	489	(1)
Getting to Help Sections --- Quickly	490	(2)
Using Other Help Sources	492	(1)
Part X: Fast (Nearly Painless) Disaster Recovery	493	(34)
Getting Your PC to Boot When It Doesn't Want To	495	(10)
Running the System File Checker	496	(1)
Falling Back to Safe Mode	497	(4)
Using Safe Mode of your own volition	498	(2)
Using System Restore in Safe Mode	500	(1)
Using Help and Support in Safe Mode	501	(1)
Using smart techniques to keep the system running at minimal levels	501	(1)
Using the Registry in Safe Mode	501	(1)
Using Recovery Console	501	(4)
Restoring Your System after Calamitous Change	505	(5)
Understanding System Restore's Limitations	505	(1)
Creating a Restore Point	506	(1)
Restoring to a Restore Point --- Quickly	507	(3)
If Windows isn't running and won't start	508	(1)
If Windows runs	508	(2)
Recovering a Lost Password	510	(6)
Creating a Password Reset Disk	510	(2)
Using Your Password Reset Disk	512	(1)
Getting Around Your Own Password	513	(3)
Surviving the Blue Screen of Death	516	(5)
Encountering a Blue Screen of Death	517	(1)
Starting with Common-Sense Approaches	518	(1)
Digging into Specific Errors	519	(2)
Creating a Startup Disk	521	(6)
Getting the CD You Deserve	522	(1)
Creating a Boot File Bypass Disk	522	(2)
Using DOS Boot Disks --- If You Can	524	(2)
Creating Windows XP Setup Disks	526	(1)
Part XI: The Scary (Or Fun!) Stuff	527	(28)
Changing the Registry without Getting Burned	529	(7)
Don't Mess with This?	529	(1)
Understanding the Registry	530	(2)
Backing Up Data the Registry Way	532	(1)
Making Changes Safely	533	(1)
Running My Favorite Quick Registry Tweak	533	(3)
Updating Windows' Registered Owner	536	(3)
Seeing Who Owns Your PC	536	(1)
Changing the Owner and Organization	537	(2)
Speeding Up Scanning for Squishable Files	539	(3)
Scanning for Squishers	539	(1)
Speeding Up the Scan	540	(2)
Using Program Compatibility Modes	542	(5)
Scanning for Program Compatibility	542	(3)
Setting Compatibility Modes	545	(1)
Installing the Retro Way	546	(1)
Fast, Easy, and Safe Online Shopping	547	(8)
Searching Reliable E-Tailers	547	(2)
Paying It Safe	549	(4)
Choosing a payment method	549	(1)
Getting what you pay for	549	(1)
Using reputable Web sites	550	(1)
Handling credit card fraud	551	(1)
Keeping private information private	552	(1)
Complaining Effectively	553	(1)
Mastering eBay	553	(2)
Index	555