Super Windows Secrets

XP Tweaks: Fixes for XP's Super-Annoyances

What's a superhero without flaws? These tips help undo some of XP's worst.

Annihilate Annoying Animations To dump XP's Search 'toon, open any folder, press F3 to start a search, and at the bottom of the Search Companion pane on the left, click Change Preferences. At the top of the pane, click Without an animated screen character (see FIGURE 7). Either continue with a search or close the window.

Wipe out Windows Messenger A nagging balloon from the tray area of the taskbar urges you to launch Windows Messenger and sign up for Microsoft's .Net Passport program. To pop it once and for all, choose Start,Run, type regedit, and click OK. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. With the Run folder (called a 'key' in Registry-ese) selected on the left, choose the MSMSGS icon on the right and press Delete. Click Yes to confirm, and exit the Registry Editor. The icon will disappear from the tray the next time you log on.

Ungroup Your Buttons XP groups similar applications under a single button in the taskbar, forcing you to choose the item from a pop-up menu. If you would prefer separate buttons for each open application, right-click the taskbar, choose Properties, uncheck Group similar taskbar buttons, and click OK.

Bypass the Password Prompt You might not need to enter a password each time you deactivate your screen saver. The fix is easy: Right-click the desktop and choose Properties. Click the Screen Saver tab, uncheck the box labeled On resume, password protect or On resume, display Welcome screen (depending on your log-on configuration), and click OK.

Remember Open Folders In previous versions of Windows, folders and Explorer windows you had open when you logged off would open again the next time you logged on. Not so in Windows XP. If you miss this feature, choose Tools, Folder Options in any window, click the View tab, scroll to the end of the Advanced settings list, check Restore previous folder windows at logon, and click OK.

Pulverize Personalized Menus In Windows XP's Classic Start menu (see " A Classic Look," above), the 'personalized' menus rearrange menu items and hide many entries until you click the double-arrow symbol to display the entire listing. To get rid of this irksome convention, simply right-click the Start button and choose Properties. Click the Customize button, and scroll to the bottom of the Advanced Start menu options. Uncheck Use Personalized Menus, and click OK twice.