Index
Numerics
802.11n standard, 6
A
abbreviating long filenames in Command Prompt, 432–433
Access Denied message, configuring for standard users, 127–128
accessing
Mac shares in Windows, 331, 334
router setup pages, 22
Run command, 30
activating Administrator account, 136–139
Activity Reporting (Parental Controls), 116
ad hoc wireless networks, creating, 374–376
adding
icons to Quick Launch toolbar, 380
parameters to Command Prompt commands, 430–432
programs with Open With dialog box, 319
switches to Command Prompt commands, 430–432
tabs to Windows Explorer, 320–321
Address bar (Internet Explorer)
editing, 41
list, clearing, 106–108
searching with, 184–186
adjusting
blink rate of cursor, 206
font size, 207–209
admin approval mode (Administrator account), activating, 139
administrative hidden shares, disabling, 342
Administrator account, 126, 135
admin approval mode, activating, 139
Command Prompt, running automatically, 140–141
programs, running, 143–144
renaming, 71–72
scripts, running, 141–142
Administrators group, 126
ads, removing from recorded TV shows, 252–254
advanced filters, 287
Aero Glass, 202
Aero interface, turning off, 202
animated GIFs, disabling, 43
anonymous proxy servers, 112
configuring, 114
web proxies, 112
antivirus programs, 26
application compatibility, resolving in Windows Vista, 381–383
applications
base priority, modifying, 163
non-native documents, opening, 62–65
performance, optimizing, 15
restricting access to children, User Controls, 117–118
security suites, 26
starting from Command Prompt, 433–435
taskbar grouping, 200
customizing, 201–202
disabling, 201
APs (access points), signal leakage, 368
AQS (Advanced Query Syntax), properties, 288–289
ASR utility, restoring Windows XP, 306
assigning static IP addresses, 324–327
associating, documents with non-native applications, 62–65
attachments (email) as security risk, 25
Audit Account Logon Events policy, error codes, 73–78
auditing logon failures, 72, 75–78
AutoComplete feature (Internet Explorer), 39
automatic installs, disabling, 83
automatic sleep mode, disabling on Vista, 347
automatic startup launch
configuring, 384
using Group Policy snap-in, 386–388
using Startup folder, 384
using the Registry, 385
preventing, 388–389
AutoSearch feature (Internet Explorer), 41
B
Back Up Files Wizard (Windows Vista), 298–300
background programs, 15
backing up
Registry, 407–408
restore points, creating, 280–282
Windows Vista
backing up to network location, 298–300
restoring from Complete PC backup, 305–306
Windows XP
backing up to network location, 300–301
backups, restoring to Vista, 307–308
restoring with ASR utility, 306
system image, creating
in Windows Vista, 302–303
in Windows XP, 303–304
backup jobs, 300
Backup Utility, using in Windows Vista, 309–310
base priority, modifying, 163
BCDEDIT, running within Command Prompt session, 427
blink rate of cursor, adjusting, 206
blinking cursor, widening, 205–206
blocking
access to Registry, 406–407
childrens’ access to websites, 120–122
email, 95–99
websites from adding cookies, 111
Boolean operators, 293
broken services, resetting, 398–399
browsing history, deleting, 102–105
built-in accounts, renaming, 71–72
C
changing, script properties, 446
check boxes, selecting files, 54–55
clearing Address bar list in Internet Explorer, 106–108
ClearType feature, turning on, 34–35
The Cloak, 112
clocks, displaying for different time zones, 225
cmd.exe, switches, 428–429
Command Prompt, 425
access, preventing, 427
applications, starting, 433–435
BCDEDIT, running, 427
cmd. exe, switches, 428–429
commands
editing, 436–437
entering multiple on single line, 436
parameters, 430–432
recalling, 435–436
switches, 430–432
folders, opening, 262
in Windows Vista, 264–265
in Windows XP, 262–264
long filenames, abbreviating, 432–433
running automatically for Administrator account, 140–141
sessions, starting, 426
text, copying, 437
command-line
external commands, running, 429–430
internal commands, running, 429–430
scripts, running, 444–445
commands
ipconfig, 325
ren, 261
whoami, 131–132
commercials, removing from recorded TV shows, 252, 254
compatibility issues with programs, resolving in Windows Vista, 381–383
compatibility layers, 382
complexity requirements for passwords, enforcing, 148–150
compressing video files, 254–256
configuring
Access Denied message for standard users, 127–128
Ctrl+Alt+Delete access, 21
direct post-startup access, 161
DNS database, 194–195
OpenDNS, 191–194
policies, 423
processor affinity, 392
proxy servers, 114
remote administration, 358–359
Remote Desktop connections via the Internet, 358
host IP address, determining, 356
listening port, changing, 355–356
port forwarding, enabling, 357
Windows Firewall, enabling, 356
Windows Vista for multiple monitors, 209
connecting to remote computers with scripts, 359–362
Contacts list, exporting to text file, 46
converting links in Start menu to menus, 175–176
cookies, 110–111
copying text from Command Prompt, 437
core (CPU), 391
core, 391
dual core, 391
processor affinity, configuring, 392
processor scheduling, 15
crackers, 20–24
crawlers, 96
creating
custom search providers, 188–189
panoramic shots from multiple photos, 245
.reg files, 414–416
Registry keys, 416
search folders, 294
strong passwords, 146
system image
in Windows Vista, 302–303
in Windows XP, 303–304
cropping photos, 241–242
CScript, 444–445
Ctrl+Alt+Delete access, configuring, 21
cursor
blink rate, adjusting, 206
widening, 205–206
custom logo, adding, 215
Windows Vista, 220–221
customizing
New menu, 314–317
Open With dialog box, 317–318
photo import names, 243–244
Places bar, 222
using Group Policy Editor, 223–224
using the Registry, 225
Remote Desktop Connection software, 351–354
rip settings on Windows Media Player, 230–234
Search box properties, 61–62
search providers, 188–189
taskbar grouping, 201–202
cycles, 163
D
default buttons, 36
default sharing, disabling, 336
defragmenting the hard drive in Windows XP, 269–272
Delete Confirmation dialog boxes, disabling, 56–57, 59
deleting
browsing history, 102–105
Google Web History, 108–110
oldest files in a folder, 257–260
Registry keys, 415–417
DHCP servers, 324
dialog boxes, default button, 36
direct post-boot access, configuring, 161
disabling
animated GIFs, 43
automatic installs, 83
automatic startup launch for programs, 388–389
default sharing, 336
hidden administrative shares, 342
Open With dialog box, 319
Recycle Bin Delete Confirmations, 56–59
Recycle Bin Properties command, 58–59
SSID broadcasting, 370–371
startup GUI, 160
taskbar grouping, 201
transparency effects on Aero interface, 10
user accounts, 129–130
discovering currently logged on users, 132–133
Disk Management snap-in, partitioning the hard drive, 275–276
displaying
clocks for different time zones, 225
custom logos, 215
in Windows Vista, 220–221
file extensions, 31–32
Quick Launch icons, 380
XP computers in Windows Vista Network Map, 327–330
DNS database, configuring, 194–195
documents, opening in non-native applications, 62–65
domain name resolution, 190
OpenDNS, 190–194
DOSKEY commands
editing, 436–437
multiple, entering on single line, 436
recalling, 435–436
downloading Group Policy Settings Reference, 420
DPI (dots per inch) setting, adjusting, 207–209
dual core CPUs, 391
dynamic IP addresses, 324
E
Ease of Access Center, 207
editing
command-line commands, 436–437
.reg files, 414
Registry keys
binary values, 413
DWORD, 413
QWORD, 413
string values, 412
email, 45
attachments as security risk, 25
Contacts list, deactivating automatic update feature, 46
messages
blocking, 95–99
reading in plain text, 26, 93–95
replies, sending to different address, 51
sending through custom SMTP port, 49–50
enabling
Administrator account, 136–138
ClearType feature, 34–35
Guest account, 130–131
Parental Controls, 115
QuickEdit mode, 438
security zones in Internet Explorer, 26
spyware protection on Windows Defender, 23
write caching, 16
WPA, 369
enforcing password policies, 148–155
error codes for Audit Account Logon Events policy, 73–75
Event Viewer, displaying Security log events, 75
exact matches, finding in Windows Search, 293
exceptions
creating
for Windows Firewall, 86–87, 90
for World Wide Web Services in IIS 7, 92–93
scope, 86
executing multiple jobs in scripts, 444
execution core, 391
expiring users’ passwords, 151–152
Contacts list to text file, 46
Registry to .reg file, 409
extensions
displaying, 31–32
turning on, 33
external commands, running, 429–430
F
favorite programs list, 173
file downloads, blocking, 122
file extensions, turning on, 33
file format, selecting for ripped music, 231–232
file sharing, 24
disabling, 336
enabling, 336–338
Mac shares, accessing in Windows, 331, 334
NTFS security permissions, setting, 339
user accounts, creating, 338–339
files
deleting oldest from folders, 257–260
encrypting, 79
extensions, displaying, 31–32
multiple, renaming, 261–262
opening with single mouse click, 164–166
searching for with Search box, 61–62
selecting, 53–55
video files, compressing, 254–256
filtering spam, 99
finding exact matches in Windows Search, 293
firewalls, 22
hardening, 84
testing, 22
Windows Firewall, creating exceptions, 86–87, 90
flash drives, caching SuperFetch, 11–14
Flickr, publishing photos to, 247
Flip, 202
Flip 3D, 202
folders
adding to search index, 286
NTFS security permissions, setting, 339
oldest files, deleting, 257–260
opening at command prompt, 262
in Windows Vista, 264–265
in Windows XP, 262–264
opening with single mouse click, 164–166
taking ownership of, 265–267
font size, adjusting, 207, 209
foreground programs, 15
forgotten passwords, recovering, 155–156
G
Gigabit Ethernet, 7
global Windows Script Host properties, setting, 446
Google, deleting web history, 108–110
graphics performance, tuning with Visual Effects tab (System Properties dialog box), 8–9
group policies, 420
parallel Registry settings, 420
Remove Properties from the Recycle Bin Context Menu policy, 58
Group Policy Editor, 419–420
Access Denied message, configuring for standard users, 127–128
Group Policy window, 422
launching, 421
logon failures, auditing, 75
Places bar, customizing, 223–224
policies, configuring, 423
usernames, hiding on logon screen, 70
Group Policy Settings Reference, downloading, 420
Group Policy snap-in, configuring automatic startup launch, 386–388
Group Policy window, 422
Guest account
enabling, 130–131
renaming, 71–72
H
handles, 403
hard drive
defragmenting in Windows XP, 269–272
partitioning, 273–276
hard drives
cache, 15
free space, determining on remote computers, 277–280
performance, optimizing, 15
SATA, 16
upgrading, 6
write caching, enabling, 16
hardening your firewall, 84
hardware, upgrading, 6
hidden accessories (Windows XP), uninstalling, 394
hidden shares, viewing, 341
hidden wireless networks, connecting to, 371–374
hiding
notification area icons, 197–200
shared folders, 340
usernames in logon screen, 68–70
highlighted programs (Start menu), disabling, 178–179
history buffer (DOSKEY), recalling commands, 435–436
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT root key, 403
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG root key, 404
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE root key, 404
HKEY_USERS root key, 404
hovering, 165
HTML (HyperText Markup Language), 93
hung processes, killing, 395–396
hyperthreading, 392
I
icons
adding to in Start menu, 174
adding to Quick Launch toolbar, 380
notification area icons, hiding, 197, 199–200
Quick Launch icons, displaying, 380
unused, removing from Start menu, 179–180
IIS 7
installing, 90–91
World Wide Web Services, creating exceptions, 92–93
import names (photos), customizing, 243–244
importing Registry from .reg file, 410
incoming messages, automatically copying to server, 47
increasing, DPI value, 207, 209
installed programs, writing to text file, 396, 398
installing
IIS 7, 90–91
Remote Desktop Connection software on Windows XP, 350
internal commands, 429–430
Internet, allowing Remote Desktop connections, 355–358
Internet Explorer
Address bar
editing, 41
list, clearing, 106–108
searching with, 184–186
animated GIFs, disabling, 43
AutoComplete feature, 39
browsing history, deleting, 102–105
Googe Web History, deleting, 108–110
home page, loading multiple at startup, 37–39
security zones, enabling, 26
tabbed browsing, 189–190
tabs, switching between, 42
IP addressing
dynamic IP addresses, 324
information, displaying, 325
static IP address, assigning, 324–327
ipconfig command, 325
J-K
JavaScript, 440
jobs, 444
keyboard shortcuts, selecting Quick Launch icons, 380
keys (Registry)
binary values, editing, 413
creating, 416
deleting, 415–417
DWORD, editing, 413
editing, 412
QWORD, editing, 413
renaming, 416
saving to favorites, 411
string values, editing, 412
subkeys, 404
searching for, 417
keys pane (Registry Editor), 403
killing hung processes, 395–396
L
launching
Command Prompt sessions, 426
Group Policy Editor, 421
Local Security Policy Editor, 422
programs at startup, 384
using Group Policy snap-in, 386–388
using Startup folder, 384
using the Registry, 385
Registry Editor, 402
Lavasoft Ad-Aware, 23
least-privileged user, 125
legacy keys, 386
links (Start menu), converting to menus, 175–176
loading multiple home pages at startup, 37–39
Local Security Policy Editor, 422
Administrator account, activating, 137
Local Users and Groups snap-in, activating Administrators account, 137
location, selecting for ripped music, 230
locking your computer, 19–20
logged-on user accounts, discovering, 132–133
logging in
Ctrl+Alt+Delete access, configuring, 21
direct-post-startup access, configuring, 161
logon failures, auditing, 72, 75–78
logon screen, hiding usernames, 68–70
logos, customizing
for Windows Vista, 215
long filenames, abbreviating in Command Prompt, 432–433
lost passwords, recovering, 155–156
M
Mac shares, accessing in Windows, 331, 334
managing multiple logins, 147
password changes, requiring, 151–155
password policies, enforcing, 148–150
McNealy, Scott, 101
media sharing, enabling, 234, 236
memory on video cards, viewing, 8
messages (email)
blocking, 95–99
reading in plain text, 93–95
Microsoft Script Debugger, 444
minimum password length, enforcing, 148–150
modifying base priority of programs, 163
monitors, multiple monitor configuration, 209
mouse
hovering, 165
pointer, moving to default button, 36
single-clicking, configuring, 165–166
MP3 files, 232
multiple commands, entering on single line, 436
multiple files
renaming, 261–262
selecting, 54
multiple jobs, executing in scripts, 444
multiple logins
password policies, enforcing, 148–150
multiple monitor configuration, 209
music
media sharing, enabling, 234–236
recording file format, selecting, 231–232
recording quality, selecting, 233
ripping to network location, 234
N
name column (Registry Editor settings pane), 404–405
NAS (network-attached storage), 298
natural language searches, 291–293
network location, selecting for ripped music, 234
Network Map, displaying XP computers, 327–330
network sharing, enabling, 336–338
networking
backing up to network, 298
in Windows Vista, 298–300
in Windows XP, 300–301
media sharing, enabling, 234–236
recording TV shows to network, location, 250–251
remote computers, determining hard disk space, 277–280
static IP address, assigning, 324–327
New menu, customizing, 314–317
nonbroadcast wireless networks, connecting to, 371–374
notification area icons, hiding, 199–200
NTFS
files, encrypting, 79
security permissions, setting, 339
O
old passwords, preventing users from reusing, 153–155
Open With dialog box
application, removing from file type, 318
associating documents with applications, 64–65
customizing, 317–318
disabling, 319
programs, adding/removing, 319
OpenDNS, configuring, 190–194
opening
documents in non-native applications, 62–65
files with single mouse click, 164–166
new tabs in Internet Explorer, 189
optimizing
paging file, 282–283
performance, 15
Outlook 2003, reading email in plain text, 26
Outlook 2007, reading email in plain text, 26
Outlook Express
Contacts list, deactivating automatic update feature, 46
email, reading in plain text, 26
P
packet sniffers, 369
Pagefile.sys file, 283
paging files
moving to another hard drive, 283
optimizing, 282–283
panoramic shots, creating from multiple photos, 245
parameters
adding to Command Prompt commands, 430–432
for Windows Script Host, 443
Parental Controls
Activity Reporting, 116
enabling, 115
Parkinson’s Law of Data, 249
partitioning the hard drive, 273–276
passwords, 20
lost passwords, recovering, 155–156
multiple logins, managing, 147
policies, enforcing, 148–155
strong passwords, creating, 146
pasting text from Command Line, 437
performance
enhancing with hardware upgrades, 6
graphics, tuning with Visual Effects tab (System Properties dialog box), 8–9
optimizing, 15
prefetcher, 10
permissions, 19
for accessing Registry, setting, 408
taking ownership of files, 265–267
photos
cropping, 241–242
panoramic, creating from multiple photos, 245
photo import names, customizing, 243–244
publishing to Flickr account, 247
red eye, removing, 240
PIF (program information file) files, 431
pinned programs list, 173
Places bar, customizing, 222
using Group Policy Editor, 223–224
using the Registry, 225
policies, configuring, 423
port forwarding, enabling, 357
prefetcher, 10
preventing
Command Prompt access, 427
programs from starting automatically, 388–389
users from changing passwords, 153
cookies, 110–111
proxy servers
configuring, 114
web proxies, 112–113
Windows Media Player options, 105
processors. See CPUs
programs
adding with Open With list, 319
automatic startup launch, preventing, 388–389
base priority, modifying, 163
compatibility issues, resolving in Windows Vista, 381, 383
configuring to launch at startup, 384
using Group Policy snap-in, 386–388
using Startup folder, 384
using the Registry, 385
disabling highlighting in Start menu, 178–179
removing with Open With list, 319
running as administrator, 143–144
starting from Command Prompt, 433–435
properties
of AQS, 288–289
of scripts
changing, 446
viewing, 445
Proxity, 112
proxy servers, 112–114
publishing photos to Flickr account, 247
Q
QT TabBar, 320
quality of recording, selecting for ripped music, 233
Quick Launch toolbar, 380
QuickEdit mode, 438
R
RAM, increasing, 6
reading email in plain text, 26, 93–95
ReadyBoost, 11–14
recalling command lines, 435–436
recorded TV shows, editing out commercials, 252–254
recording TV shows to network location, 250–251
recording file format, selecting for ripped music, 231–232
recording quality, selecting for ripped music, 233
recovering lost passwords, 155–156
Recycle Bin
Delete Confirmation dialog boxes, disabling, 56–59
Properties command, disabling, 58–59
red eye, removing from photos, 240
reducing kill time for running applications, 171
.reg files
creating, 414–416
editing, 414
exporting Registry keys to, 409
exporting Registry to, 409
importing Registry from, 410
keys, deleting, 415
Registry
.reg files
creating, 414–416
editing, 414
automatic startup launch, configuring, 385
backing up, 407–408
blocking access to, 406–407
exporting to .reg file, 409
handles, 403
importing from .reg file, 410
keys
creating, 416
deleting, 415–417
editing, 412–413
exporting to .reg file, 409
renaming, 416
saving to Favorites, 411
New menu, customizing, 315–317
Open With dialog box, customizing, 317–318
parallel group policy settings, 420
Places bar, customizing, 225
Recycle Bin delete confirmations, disabling, 58–59
Recycle Bin Properties command
disabling, 58–59
root keys, 403
securing, 405
subkeys, 404
searching for, 417
user name, changing, 411–412
Registry Editor, 401
Find feature, 417
keys pane, 403
launching, 402
settings pane, 404–405
remote administration, configuring, 358–359
remote computers
connecting to with scripts, 359, 362
determining service pack version, 364–365
determining Windows version, 362–364
hard disk space, determining, 277–280
Remote Desktop Connection software
allowing connections via the Internet, 358
host IP address, determining, 356
listening port, changing, 355–356
port forwarding, enabling, 357
Windows Firewall, configuring, 356
customizing, 351–354
installing on Windows XP, 350
Remote Desktop hosting, configuring
on Windows Vista, 347–349
on Windows XP, 349–350
Removable Storage Management, restoring Windows XP backups to Vista, 307–308
Remove Properties from the Recycle Bin Context Menu policy, 58
removing
applications from file type’s Open With menu, 318
commercials from recorded TV shows, 252–254
programs with Open With dialog box, 319
red eye from photos, 240
stored remote desktop credentials, 343
unused icons from Start menu, 179–180
REN command, 261
renaming
Administrator account, 71–72
Guest account, 71–72
multiple files, 261–262
Registry keys, 416
replies (email), sending to different email address, 51
requiring users to change passwords, 151–155
resetting broken services, 398–399
resolving program compatibility issues in Vista, 381, 383
restore points, creating, 280–282
restoring
Run command to Start menu, 30
Windows Vista from Complete PC backup, 305–306
Windows XP backups to Vista, 307–308
Windows XP with ASR utility, 306
restricting access to children
Parental Controls, 115–116
User Controls, 117–122
rip setting, customizing on Windows Media Player, 230–234
root keys, 403
routers, configuring, 22
RPC (Remote Procedure Call), 358
run command, 30
running
commands, 429–430
applications, reducing kill time, 171
scripts, 442–445
S
SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) hard drives, 16
script tag, 442
scripting engine, 440
scripts, 442
CScript, 444–445
installed programs, writing to text file, 396–398
jobs, 444
logon failures, auditing, 76–78
Microsoft Script Debugger, 444
multiple jobs, executing, 444
properties
changing, 446
viewing, 445
remote computers, connecting to, 359, 362
running as administrator, 141–142
VBScript, 441
version of service pack, determining on remote computers, 364–365
version of Windows, determining on remote computers, 362–364
Windows Script Host, parameters, 443
Search box, 59–62
search engines, Address bar-based searching, 184–186
search folders, creating, 294
search prefix, 185
search providers, customizing, 188–189
advanced filters, 287
AQS properties and values, 288–289
for subkeys, 417
natural language searches, 291–293
Windows Search Engine, adding folders to search index, 286
secure desktop mode, 127
security
auditing logon failures, 72, 75–78
basic principles, 18
built-in accounts, renaming, 71–72
Command Prompt access, preventing, 427
Ctrl+Alt+Delete access, configuring, 21
email, 93–99
encrypting files, 79
encryption, 79
file sharing, 24
firewalls, configuring, 22
locking your computer, 19–20
maintaining system updates, 24
passwords, 20
Registry, 405
backing up, 407–408
blocking access to, 406–407
user name, changing, 411–412
spyware protection, 23
viruses, thwarting, 25–27
wireless networks, 368
nonbroadcast wireless networks, connecting to, 371–374
signal leakage, 368
SSID broadcasting, disabling, 370–371
WPA, 369
security suites, 26
security zones, enabling in Internet Explorer, 26
selecting
files, 53–55
Quick Launch icons, 380
sending email messages
replying to different address, 51
through custom SMTP port, 49–50
service pack version, determining on remote computers, 364–365
services, disabling, 166–170
settings pane (Registry Editor), 404–405
shared folders, hiding, 340
sharing, enabling media sharing, 234–236
shortcuts, pinning to Start menu, 174
signal leakage, 368
single-clicking, configuring, 164–166
SMB (Server Message Block), 331
SMTP, sending messages through, 49–51
Snap To feature, 36
Soper, Mark Edward, 251
spyware protection, 23
SSID broadcasting, disabling, 370–371
standard users group, 126
configuring Access Denied messages, 127–128
START command, syntax, 433–434
Start menu
highlighted programs, disabling, 178–179
links, converting to menus, 175–176
pinned programs list, 173
Run command, 30
Search box, 59–61
customizing, 61–62
shorcuts, adding to, 174
unused icons, removing, 179–180
starting
applications from Command Prompt, 433–435
Command Prompt sessions, 426
startup. See also automatic startup launch
direct post-startup access configuring, 161
startup GUI, disabling, 160
Startup folder, configuring automatic startup launch, 384
startup items, creating with the Registry, 386
static IP addresses, assigning, 324–327
stored remote desktop credentials, removing, 343
Stratton, Terri, 246
strong passwords, creating, 146
subkeys, 404
finding, 417
SuperFetch, 10
caching, 11–14
switches
adding to Command Prompt commands, 430–432
for cmd.exe, 428–429
for WHOAMI command, 132
switching between browser tabs, 42
syntax for START command, 433–434
system image, creating
in Windows Vista, 302–303
in Windows XP, 303–304
System Properties dialog box, graphics performance, tuning, 8–9
system RAM, increasing, 6
System Restore utility
Registry, backing up, 408
restore points, creating, 280–282
T
tabs, adding to Windows Explorer, 320–321
taking ownership of files, 265–267
Task Scheduler, configuring automatic startup launch, 384
taskbar grouping, 200
customizing, 201–202
disabling, 201
taskbar thumbnails, 202
testing firewalls, 22
text, copying from Command Prompt, 437
threads, 42
thwarting
crackers, 22–24
viruses, 25–27
time limits, enforcing for children, 118–120
time sucks, 197
time zones, displaying different clocks for, 225
transparency effects, turning off on Aero interface, 10
Trojan Horse programs, 25
turning off Aero interface, 202
turning on
ClearType feature, 34–35
file extensions, 33
TV shows
commercials, removing from recordings, 252, 254
recording to network location, 250–251
type column (Registry Editor settings pane), 404
U
UAC (User Account Control), 18
least-privileged user, 125
uninstalling hidden accessories in Windows XP, 394
unneeded services, disabling, 166–170
unused icons, removing from Start menu, 179–180
upgrading hardware, 6
user accounts
Administrator account, 135
activating, 136–138
admin approval mode, 139
Command Prompt, running automatically, 140–141
programs, running, 143–144
scripts, running, 141–142
creating for file sharing, 338–339
currently logged on, determining, 132–133
disabling, 129–130
Guest account, enabling, 130–131
standard users, configuring Access Denied message, 127–128
User Controls
restricting access to children, 117–118
Time Limits, 118–120
Web Restrictions, 120–122
usernames
changing with Registry, 411–412
hiding in logon screen, 68, 70
V
values (AQS), 288–289
VBA for the Office 2007 System (Que, 2007), 440
VBScript, 440–441
logon failures, auditing, 78
version of service pack, determining on remote computers, 364–365
version of Windows, determining on remote computers, 362–364
video cards
effect on system performance, 8
memory, 8
upgrading, 7
video files, compressing, 254–256
viewing
hidden shares, 341
script properties, 445
moving to another hard drives, 283
optimizing, 282–283
viruses, thwarting, 25–27
Vista. See Windows Vista
Visual Effects tab (System Properties dialog box), tuning graphics performance, 8–9
W-X-Y-Z
wardriving, 368
WAV files, 232
web bugs, 93
web proxies, 112
Web Restrictions (User Controls), 120–122
web servers, IIS 7
exceptions, creating for World Wide Web Services, 92–93
installing, 90–91
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), 369
WHOAMI command, 131–132
widening blinking cursor, 205–206
Window Search Engine, advanced filters, 287
Windows Components Wizard, uninstalling hidden accessories, 394
Windows Configuration utility, preventing automatic startup launch for programs, 389
Windows Defender
automatic startup launch, preventing for selected programs, 389
spyware protection, enabling, 23
Windows Explorer, adding tabs, 320–321
Windows Firewall, 85
exceptions, creating, 86–90
Windows Logo key, 380
Windows Mail
email, reading in plain text, 26
incoming messages, automatically copying to server, 47
Windows Media Player
custom rip settings, creating, 230–234
privacy options, 105
Windows Script Host, 440–442
CScript, 444–445
global properties, setting, 446
Microsoft Script Debugger, 444
parameters, 443
scripts, running, 442
Windows Search Engine
exact matches, finding, 293
folders, adding to search index, 286
Windows thumbnails, 202
ad hoc wireless networks, creating, 374–376
Aero interface, turning off transparency effects, 10
backing up to a network, 298–300
check box-based file selection, enabling, 54–55
ClearType feature, turning on, 34–35
command prompt, opening folders from, 264–265
custom logo, displaying, 220–221
default button, 36
Event Viewer, displaying Security log events, 75
hidden wireless networks, connecting to, 371–372
locking your computer, 19–20
Network Map, displaying XP computers, 327–330
program compatibility issues, resolving, 381–383
Quick Launch toolbar, 380
ReadyBoost, 11–14
Registry, backing up, 407 See also Registry
Registry Editor, launching, 402
Remote Desktop hosting, configuring, 347–349
restoring from Complete PC backup, 305–306
search folders, creating, 294
SuperFetch, 10
caching, 11–14
system image, creating, 302–303
usernames, hiding on logon screen, 68
Windows Vista Guide to Scripting, Automation, and Command Line Tools (Que 2009), 426
Windows Vista Media Center, 251
Windows XP
ad hoc wireless networks, creating, 376
backing up to a network, 300–301
Backup Utility, using in Vista, 309–310
ClearType feature, turning on, 35
command prompt, opening folders from, 262–264
custom logo, displaying, 216–219
default button, 36
Event Viewer, displaying Security log events, 75
hard drive, defragmenting, 269–272
hidden accessories, uninstalling, 394
hidden wireless networks, connecting to, 372, 374
hung processes, killing, 395–396
locking your computer, 19–20
Professional version, hiding usernames on logon screen, 68
Registry, backing up, 407–408. See also Registry
Registry Editor, launching, 402
Remote Desktop Connection software installing, 350
Remote Desktop hosting, configuring, 349–350
restoring with ASR utility, 306
system image, creating, 303–304
usernames, hiding on logon screen, 68
wireless networks
ad hoc, creating
in Windows Vista, 374–376
in Windows XP, 376
APs, signal leakage, 368
nonbroadcasting, connecting to, 371–374
securing, 368
SSID broadcasting, disabling, 370–371
WPA, 369
WMA files, 231–232
WMA Pro files, 231
WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) script, determining free disk space on remote computers, 277–280
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), 369
write caching, 16
writing installed programs to text file, 396–398