Uncover Hidden Windows Features
Ever wanted Windows 2000 to offer the compatibility tab like XP does for your old programs? How about expanding Windows Search capabilities? Do you want to get old games that require the IPX/SPX protocol in Windows Vista? Then this page is for you!
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Note: When these sections instruct you to "run", "type" or execute command lines, they mean typing the commands/instruction into Start->Run. Any reference to HKLM (HKey Local Machine) is a location within the Windows Registry (Start->Regedit). These tips & tricks assume you have sufficient knowledge to carry out the instructions and Guru Guy is not responsible for any consequences of implementing them.
Uncover Hidden Windows Features
- Install Windows Drivers via the Administrative Command Line into the repositories.
Type the command at an administrative prompt:
Pnputil.exe –a C:\LocationDirectoryName /prnms002.Inf
Thanks to Heber Mac Guinness for the tip!- Add the Windows XP Compatibility Mode Tab in Windows 2000 (SP2+) to allow Legacy Windows 9x/3x programs to run:
To add:
regsvr32 %systemroot%apppatch\slayerui.dll
To Disable:
regsvr32 /u %systemroot% apppatch\slayerui.dll- Make Windows clean up tool more powerful by including other categories to search and offer for removal:
Type: cleanmgr /sageset:99
Next run disk cleanup to find new options.- Windows Search does not search for files it doesn't recognise! (e.g. Readme.xyz). Change this to include all files to search by:
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\ContentIndex
FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions icon and cnage the 0 in the 'value data' to 1.- Create a shortcut to lock your computer (same as Windows key +L):
Select New->Shortcut
"rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation"- How to make a shortcut to Hibernate:
a. Create a New Shortcut, enter the following and label it "Hibernate":
b. "%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState"- Make a "Create New Folder with Date" option in Windows:
a. Change date format to have dashes not slashes via clock. (Type in run: control intl.cpl)
b. Windows Explorer->Tools->Folder Options->File Types->Advanced->New.
c. Under action type: “New folder with today’s date”
d. under application used enter: cmd.exe /c md “%1\%%DATE%%”
- Find out detailed information relating to Windows Vista Licence:
a. [Windows Key] + R (brings up start->run)
b. slmgr.vbs –dli- Extend Windows Vista and Server 2008 30-Day trial (grace period) which will increase the period 30 days at a time, up to 3 times (except Enterprise editions):
slmgr -rearm- Fool Windows Vista Upgrade to install on blank hard disk (Upgrade edition only supports windows installed). Do this as a fresh install is always better than an upgrade!
- Install puchased version of Vista (e.g. Home Premium) to Hard Disk but DO NOT enter product key.
- Once 'Trial' edition is running, from within Windows re-load the Vista DVD setup and select upgrade!
- Get the IPX/SPX protocol under Windows Vista
(Some games like C&C Redalert 2 etc. require IPX/SPX instead of TCP/IP for LAN Games):
- Create new folder named 'temp' to root of your Vista drive ( C: )
- Copy the following files from XP to the c:\Temp folder
Windows\System32\drivers\nwlnkipx.sys
Windows\System32\drivers\nwlnkflt.sys
Windows\System32\drivers\nwlnkfwd.sys
Windows\System32\drivers\nwlnknb.sys
Windows\System32\drivers\nwlnkspx.sys
Windows\System32\rtipxmib.dll
Windows\System32\wshisn.dll
Windows\System32\nwprovau.dll
(Following folder is hidden)
Windows\inf\netnwlnk.inf
Windows\inf\netnwlnk.pnf- Control Panel->Network Center->Manage network connections.
- Right-click your LAN connection and select Properties.
- Click Install..., select Protocol and click Add...
- The NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS protocol may be listed on the Network Protocol list. DO NOT SELECT IT.
- Click Have Disk... Browse to C:\Temp. Select netnwlnk.inf. Click OK.
- Select NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS from the list.
- Vista will tell you that the publisher could not be verified. Click Install.
- Restart computer. You now have IPX/SPX Protocol installed!
- Install TCP/IP v6 (IPv6) under Windows XP:
- Start->Run->CMD
- Type: "netsh interface ipv6 install"
- Check if IPv6 is working properly: type: "Ping ::1"
- Show the "Hibernate" button next to Standby on the shutdown screen in Windows XP:
Requires Windows XP Service Pack 3 or MS Hotfix + SP2. Shutdown dialogue box referred to in "fast user switching" and is not available when joined to a domain (as in domains the list-style shutdown dialogue is enforced).
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\Shutdown
Create a DWORD value named ShowHibernationButton and set its data to 1.
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