Windows XP Annoyances

A.1 Alphabetical Listing of All Windows XP Settings: A-M

Accessibility, additional settings for web pages

Control Panel Internet Options General tab Accessibility

Accessibility, enable / disable warnings & notifications

Control Panel Accessibility Options General tab

Accessibility, move Magnifier with focus change in web pages

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Accessibility Move system caret with focus/selection changes

Address Bar, Go button

See "Go button"

Address Bar, history settings

Control Panel Internet Options General tab History section

Address Bar, search settings

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Search from the Address bar

Address Bar, show in Explorer

Explorer View Toolbars Address Bar

Address Bar, show on taskbar

Right-click on empty area of taskbar Toolbars Address

Address Bar, show the full path of current folder

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Display the full path in the address bar

Address Book, make the default contact list

Control Panel Internet Options Programs tab Contact list

Address Book, profile assistant (enable/disable)

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Security Enable Profile Assistant

Address Book, set default profile for AutoComplete

Control Panel Internet Options Content tab My Profile

Administrative Tools, show in Start Menu (Classic Start Menu only)

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Start Menu tab Customize "Advanced Start menu options" section Display Administrative Tools

Administrative Tools, show in Start Menu (XP Start Menu only)

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Start Menu tab Customize Advanced tab "Start menu items" section System Administrative Tools

Advanced Power Management, additional settings

Your computer's BIOS setup; see Appendix B

Advanced Power Management, effect on Offline files

Explorer Tools Synchronize Setup On Idle tab Advanced Prevent synchronization when my computer is running on battery power

Advanced Power Management, effect on Scheduled Tasks

Control Panel Scheduled Tasks right-click task Properties Settings tab Power Management section

Advanced Power Management, enable / disable

Control Panel Power Options APM tab Enable Advanced Power Management support

Alt Key, make it "sticky"

Control Panel Accessibility Options Keyboard tab Use StickyKeys

Animation, enable / disable selectively

Control Panel System Advanced tab Performance section Settings Visual Effects tab Custom

TweakUI General

Animation, fading between web pages

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Enable page transitions

Animation, show animated GIFs in web pages

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Multimedia Play animations in web pages

Animation, smooth scrolling of lists

TweakUI Explorer Enable smooth scrolling

Animation, smooth scrolling of web pages

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Use smooth scrolling

Applications, ending

Task Manager (taskmgr.exe) Applications tab

Applications, ending background processes

Task Manager (taskmgr.exe) Processes tab

Applications, list loaded DLLs

System Information (winmsd.exe) Software Environment Loaded Modules

AutoComplete, edit data

Control Panel Internet Options Content tab My Profile

AutoComplete, enable / disable

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Use inline AutoComplete

AutoComplete, Profile Assistant (enable/disable)

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Security Enable Profile Assistant

AutoComplete, settings

Control Panel Internet Options Content tab AutoComplete

Autodial

See "Dialing"

Autoexec.bat, parse at logon

TweakUI Logon

Automatic Windows Update settings

Control Panel System Automatic Updates tab

Autoplay

Explorer right-click CD drive icon Properties AutoPlay tab

TweakUI My Computer AutoPlay

Background, create and modify

Paint (mspaint.exe) save as .bmp in Windows folder

Background, select and configure

Control Panel Display Desktop tab

Balloon tips (big tooltips that pop up from taskbar notification area)

TweakUI Taskbar Enable balloon tips

Browser, set default

Control Panel Internet Options Programs tab Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser

Button color

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Advanced Item list choose "3d Objects"

Calendar, default application

Control Panel Internet Options Programs tab Calendar

Calling

See "Dialing"

Cascading Style Sheets

See "Style Sheets"

CD, autoplay

See "Autoplay"

CD Burning, folder location

TweakUI My Computer Special Folders

Certificates, check for revocation in Internet Explorer

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Security

Certificates, Internet Explorer settings for secure sites

Control Panel Internet Options Content tab Certificates section

Certificates, warn about invalid certificates in Internet Explorer

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Security Warn about invalid site certificates

Clock, show on the taskbar

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Taskbar tab Show the clock

Code page conversion table

Control Panel Regional and Language Options Advanced tab Code page conversion tables

Color profiles, associate with device

Right-click on .icm file Properties Associate Device tab

Color profiles, management

Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced Color Management tab

Colors, change for all display elements

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Advanced

Colors, encrypted and compressed files

TweakUI Explorer Colors

Colors, in web pages

Control Panel Internet Options General tab Colors

Colors, increase or decrease number of supported colors (color depth)

Control Panel Display Settings tab Color Quality

Colors, show high contrast screen colors

Control Panel Accessibility Options Display tab Use High Contrast

Combo boxes, enable / disable animation

Control Panel System Advanced tab Performance section Settings Visual Effects tab Custom

Command keys, customize

TweakUI Explorer Command Keys

Command Prompt, filename completion

TweakUI Command Prompt

Command Prompt, settings

Command Prompt window Control Menu

Compressed NTFS files, choose color

TweakUI Explorer Colors

Compressed NTFS files, differentiate with a different color

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color

Contact list, default

Control Panel Internet Options Programs tab Contact list

Control Panel, security policies

Group Policy (gpedit.msc) User Configuration Administrative Templates Control Panel

Control Panel, categories (show/hide)

Control Panel Tools Options General tab Show common tasks in folders Ok Switch to Classic View or Switch to Category View

Control Panel, icons (show/hide)

TweakUI Control Panel

Control Panel, show as menu in Start Menu (Classic Start Menu only)

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Start Menu tab Customize "Advanced Start menu options" section Expand Control Panel

Control Panel, show as menu in Start Menu (XP Start Menu only)

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Start Menu tab Customize Advanced tab "Start menu items" section Control Panel

Control Panel, show in My Computer

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Show Control Panel in My Computer

TweakUI My Computer

Cookies, change settings (block, allow, prompt)

Control Panel Internet Options Privacy tab Advanced Override automatic cookie handling

Cookies, change settings for specific websites (block, allow, prompt)

Control Panel Internet Options Privacy tab Edit

Cookies, delete all

Control Panel Internet Options General tab Temporary Internet Files section Delete Cookies

Country, choose for dialing preferences

Control Panel Phone and Modem Options Dialing Rules tab select location Edit Country/region

Country, choose for localized information

Control Panel Regional and Language Options Regional Options tab Location section

Crashes, send reports to Microsoft

Control Panel System Advanced tab Error Reporting

Critical Update Notification

Control Panel System Automatic Updates tab

Ctrl Key, make it "sticky"

Control Panel Accessibility Options Keyboard tab Use StickyKeys

Ctrl-Alt-Del window, settings

Group Policy (gpedit.msc) User Configuration Administrative Templates System Ctrl+Alt+Del Options

Currency, customize display

Control Panel Regional and Language Options Regional Options tab Customize Currency tab

Cursor, mouse cursor

See "Mouse Cursor"

Cursor, text cursor

See "Text Cursor"

Date, customize display

Control Panel Regional and Language Options Regional Options tab Customize Date tab

Date, set

Control Panel Date and Time Date & Time tab

Daylight Savings, enable / disable

Control Panel Date and Time Time Zone tab

Desktop, Cleanup Wizard runs every 60 days

Control Panel Display Desktop tab Customize Desktop General tab Run Desktop Cleanup every 60 days

Desktop, color

Control Panel Display Desktop tab Color

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Advanced Item list choose "Desktop"

Desktop, folder, change location

TweakUI My Computer Special Folders

Desktop, icons

See "Icons"

Desktop, refresh

click on an empty portion of the desktop press F5

Desktop, restrict installation of items

Control Panel Internet Options Security tab Custom Level

Desktop, security policies

Group Policy (gpedit.msc) User Configuration Administrative Templates Desktop

Desktop, show contents without minimizing applications

Right-click on taskbar Toolbars Show Desktop

Right-click on taskbar Toolbars Show Open Windows (to restore)

Explorer open Desktop folder

Desktop, version (show/hide)

TweakUI General Show Windows version on desktop

Desktop, web content (enable/disable)

TweakUI Explorer Allow Web content to be added to the desktop

Desktop, web content, lock

TweakUI Explorer Lock Web content

Desktop, web pages, add / remove / hide

Control Panel Display Desktop tab Customize Desktop Web tab

Desktop, web pages, allow moving and resizing

Control Panel Display Desktop tab Customize Desktop Web tab Lock desktop items

Desktop, web pages, automatic download of linked pages

Control Panel Display Desktop tab Customize Desktop Web tab select item Properties Download tab

Desktop, web pages, automatic updates

Control Panel Display Desktop tab Customize Desktop Web tab select item Properties Schedule tab

Desktop, web pages, automatic updates (enable/disable)

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Enable offline items to be synchronized on a schedule

Devices

See "Hardware"

Dialing, area code settings

Control Panel Phone and Modem Options Dialing Rules tab select location Edit

Dialing, call waiting

Control Panel Phone and Modem Options Dialing Rules tab select location Edit General tab To disable call waiting...

Dialing, calling card

Control Panel Phone and Modem Options Dialing Rules tab select location Edit Calling Card tab

Dialing, connect to the Internet when needed

Control Panel Internet Options Connection tab Dial whenever / Always dial

Dialing, connect to the Internet when needed, depending on location

Control Panel Network Connections Advanced Dial-Up Preferences

Dialing, default Internet connection

Control Panel Internet Options Connection tab select connection Set Default

Dialing, disconnect Internet connection when no-longer needed

Control Panel Internet Options Connection tab select connection Settings

Dialing, operator-assisted dialing

Control Panel Network Connections Advanced Operator-Assisted Dialing

Digital Camera, add as drive in Explorer (still camera only)

Control Panel Scanners and Cameras Add Device

Disconnect from Internet automatically

Control Panel Internet Options Connection tab select connection Settings

Display, force restart after changing resolution or color depth

Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced General tab Compatibility section

Display, list all possible combinations of resolution and color depth

Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced Adapter tab List All Modes

Display, refresh rate

Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced Monitor tab Screen refresh rate

Display, resolution

Control Panel Display Settings tab Screen resolution

Display, show amount of memory installed on display adapter

Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced Adapter tab Adapter Information section

Display, size

Control Panel Display Settings tab Screen resolution

Display, style

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Windows and buttons list

Display, style, apply to controls in web pages

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Enable visual styles on buttons and controls in web pages

Display, troubleshooting

Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced Troubleshoot tab

Display, turn off to save power

Control Panel Power Options Power Schemes tab Turn off hard disks

Document templates, manage

TweakUI Templates

Document templates, relocate folder

TweakUI My Computer Special Folders

Documents, history, clear on exit

TweakUI Explorer Clear document history on exit

Documents, history, maintain

TweakUI Explorer Maintain document history

Documents, show on Start Menu (Classic Start Menu only)

TweakUI Explorer Show My Documents on classic Start Menu

Documents, show on Start Menu (XP Start Menu only)

TweakUI Explorer Allow Recent Documents on Start Menu

Double-click required to open icons

Control Panel Folder Options General tab Double-click to open an item

Download Complete message, enable / disable

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Notify when downloads complete

Drivers

See "Hardware"

Drives, show/hide in My Computer

TweakUI My Computer Drives

Drives, warn when low on free space

TweakUI Taskbar Warn when low on disk space

DVD drive, autoplay enable / disable

Explorer right-click DVD drive icon Properties AutoPlay tab

Effects, display settings

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Effects

E-mail icon, show in Start Menu (XP Start Menu only)

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Start Menu tab Customize General tab E-mail

Email program, default

Control Panel Internet Options Programs tab E-mail

Encrypted NTFS files, customize color

TweakUI Explorer Colors

Encrypted NTFS files, differentiate with a different color

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color

Encrypted NTFS files, use with Offline files

Control Panel Folder Options Offline Files tab Encrypt offline files to secure data

Environment variables

Control Panel System Advanced tab Environment variables

Error messages, font

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Advanced Item list choose "Message Box"

Error messages, sound

Control Panel Sounds and Audio Devices Sounds tab

Error messages, text color

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Advanced Item list choose "Window"

Error Reporting, advanced settings

Group Policy (gpedit.msc) Computer Configuration Administrative Templates System Error Reporting

Error Reporting, enable / disable

Control Panel System Advanced tab Error Reporting

Explorer

See "Windows Explorer"

Extensions, show/hide filename extensions

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Hide extensions for known file types

Favorites, hide infrequently used items

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Enable Personalized Favorites Menu

Favorites, links (show/hide)

TweakUI Explorer Show Links on Favorites menu

Favorites, navigation key

TweakUI Explorer Command Keys

Favorites, relocate folder

TweakUI My Computer Special Folders

Favorites, show in Start Menu (Classic Start Menu only)

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Start Menu tab Customize "Advanced Start menu options" section Display Favorites

Favorites, show in Start Menu (XP Start Menu only)

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Start Menu tab Customize Advanced tab "Start menu items" section Favorites menu

Fax service, install support

Control Panel Printers and Faxes File Set Up Faxing

File dialogs, options

TweakUI Common Dialogs

Files, differentiate encrypted or compressed NTFS files with a different color

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color

Files, display size in folder tips

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Display file size information in folder tips

Files, double-click sensitivity

TweakUI Mouse

Files, downloads (enable/disable)

Control Panel Internet Options Security tab Custom Level

Files, drag-drop (enable/disable)

Control Panel Internet Options Security tab Custom Level

Files, drag-drop sensitivity

TweakUI Mouse

Files, extensions (show/hide)

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Hide extensions for known file types

Files, filename completion in Command Prompt

TweakUI Command Prompt

Files, hidden files (show/hide)

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Hidden files and folders

Files, Indexing Service

See "Indexing Service"

Files, system files (show/hide)

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Hide protected operating system files

Firewall

See "Internet Connection Firewall"

Focus, prevent applications from stealing

TweakUI General Focus

Folders, cache settings for offline access

Explorer right-click folder icon Sharing Caching

Folders, close automatically when Favorites or History folder is shown

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Close unused folders in History and Favorites

Folders, columns in details view

Folder window View Details View Choose Details

Folders, display file size in folder tips

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Display file size information in folder tips

Folders, group similar items

Folder window View Arrange Icons by Show in Groups

Folders, history settings

Control Panel Internet Options General tab History section

Folders, Indexing Service

See "Indexing Service"

Folders, open each folder in its own window

Control Panel Folder Options General tab Open each folder in its own window

Folders, open in separate process

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Launch folder windows in separate process

Folders, refresh view

Folder window View Refresh or press F5

Folders, remember individual settings

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Remember each folder's view settings

Folders, re-open all folder windows that were left open when system was last shut down

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Restore previous folder windows at logon

Folders, reset default appearance to Windows default

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Reset All Folders

Folders, reuse folder windows

Control Panel Folder Options General tab Open each folder in the same window

Folders, reuse folder windows when launching Internet shortcuts

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Reuse windows for launching shortcuts

Folders, set default appearance

Open any folder and configure it as you wish Tools Folder Options View tab Apply to All Folders

Folders, share on network

Explorer right-click folder icon Sharing Share this folder

Folders, show/hide hidden folders

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Hidden files and folders

Folders, show background images

Control Panel System Advanced tab Performance section Settings Visual Effects tab Custom

Folders, show common tasks

Control Panel System Advanced tab Performance section Settings Visual Effects tab Custom

Folders, show contents of system folders

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Display the contents of system folders

Folders, show Digital Camera memory as a folder (still camera only)

Control Panel Scanners and Cameras Add Device

Folders, show FTP site as folder in Internet Explorer

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Enable folder view for FTP sites

Folders, show lines in Explorer tree view

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Display simple folder view in Explorer's Folders list

Folders, show the full path in the address bar

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Display the full path in the address bar

Folders, show the full path in the title bar

Control Panel Folder Options View tab Display the full path in the title bar

Fonts, change DPI of all screen fonts

Control Panel Display Settings tab Advanced General tab DPI setting list select "Custom setting"

Fonts, determine link between font filename and font screen name

Control Panel Fonts View Details

Fonts, downloads (enable/disable)

Control Panel Internet Options Security tab Custom Level

Fonts, eliminate duplicates

Control Panel Fonts View List Fonts by Similarity

Fonts, in web pages

Control Panel Internet Options General tab Fonts

Fonts, in windows, menus, and icons

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Advanced

Fonts, install

Control Panel Fonts File Install New Font

Fonts, repair folder

TweakUI Repair

Fonts, size in applications

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Font size

Fonts, smooth edges (enable/disable)

Control Panel System Advanced tab Performance section Settings Visual Effects tab Custom

Fonts, smooth edges (settings)

Control Panel Display Appearance tab Effects Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts

Fonts, uninstall

Control Panel Fonts delete a font file to uninstall it

Fonts, view & compare

Control Panel Fonts double-click any font

FTP, server restrictions

Control Panel Network Connections right-click connection Properties Advanced tab Settings Services tab

FTP, show as folder in Internet Explorer

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Enable folder view for FTP sites

FTP, use passive mode

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Use Passive FTP

Go button, show in Address Bar

Control Panel Internet Options Advanced tag Browsing Show Go button in Address Bar

Right-click on empty portion of address bar Go Button

Hang up Internet Connection automatically

Control Panel Internet Options Connection tab select connection Settings

Hard Disk, cache settings for offline access

Explorer right-click drive icon Sharing Caching

Hard Disk, check for errors

Explorer right-click drive icon Properties Tools tab Check Now

Hard Disk, clean up

Explorer right-click drive icon Properties General tab Disk Cleanup

Hard Disk, compress drive

Explorer right-click drive icon Properties Compress drive to save disk space

Hard Disk, convert to dynamic disk

Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) View Top Disk List right-click on drive in top pane Convert to Dynamic Disk

Hard Disk, defragment

Explorer right-click drive icon Properties Tools tab Defragment Now

Hard Disk, enable / disable write caching

Device Manager right-click drive Properties Policies tab Enable write caching on the disk

Hard Disk, Indexing Service

See "Indexing Service"

Hard Disk, list volumes

Device Manager right-click drive Properties Volumes tab Populate

Hard Disk, quota management

Explorer right-click folder icon Properties Quota tab

Hard Disk, quota security policies

Group Policy (gpedit.msc) Computer Configuration Administrative Templates System Disk Quotas

Hard Disk, share on network

Explorer right-click drive icon Sharing Share this folder

Hard Disk, turn off to save power

Control Panel Power Options Power Schemes tab Turn off monitor

Hardware, change the driver for a device

Device Manager right-click on device Properties Driver tab Update Driver

Hardware, driver information for a device

Device Manager right-click on device Properties Driver tab Driver Details

Hardware, driver signing options

Control Panel System Hardware tab Driver Signing

Hardware, enable / disable

Device Manager right-click on device Properties General tab Device usage

Hardware, install

Control Panel Add Hardware

Hardware, IRQ Steering settings

Device Manager Computer right-click sole entry Properties IRQ Steering tab

Hardware, list devices

System Information (winmsd.exe) Components

Hardware, list drivers

System Information (winmsd.exe) Software Environment

Hardware, list resources used

System Information (winmsd.exe) Hardware Resources

Hardware, places to look for drivers

Group Policy (gpedit.msc) User Configuration Administrative Templates System

Hardware, profile settings

Control Panel System Hardware tab Hardware Profiles

Hardware, resources in use by a device

Device Manager right-click on device Properties Resources tab

Hardware, security policies

Group Policy (gpedit.msc) Computer Configuration Windows Settings Security Settings Local Policies Security Options

Hardware, show all installed devices

Device Manager

Hardware, uninstall

Device Manager right-click on device Uninstall

Hardware, Universal Plug and Play support

Control Panel Network Connections Advanced Optional Networking Components Networking Services

Help, pop-up help windows

See "Tooltips"

Help, show in Start Menu (XP Start Menu only)

Control Panel Taskbar and Start Menu Start Menu tab Customize Advanced tab "Start menu items"