6 somewhat lesser known Windows XP tips and tricks

Even though Windows XP hasn’t been supported by Microsoft for quite some time, it’s still in use in a lot of places. These tips are still just as valid today as they were back in 2007.

1. How to rename multiple files at once in Windows XP
2. How to change the Windows XP taskbar “grouping level”
3. How to stop MSN Messenger from ever opening
4. How to determine your Windows XP uptime
5. Album cover art folder view trick
6. How to rename the Windows XP Recycle Bin

How to rename multiple files at once in Windows XP

1. Highlight all of the files you wish to rename, right click the first one and select Rename



2. Each of the files will automatically rename itself, and append (#) to the end.

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How to change the Windows XP taskbar “grouping level”

Because this tip involves editing the registry, please strongly consider backing up the registry first.

1. By default, Windows XP will group applications together in the taskbar when more than one instance of the program is opened.



2. You can change the “level” at which programs are grouped together by downloading this registry file (right-click, save file as) and double-clicking it. When prompted to import the changes, click Yes.


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3. You’ll receive a confirmation message letting you know everything went OK.


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4. Now when you open two instances of a program, they won’t be grouped together.



5. But when you open a third instance of that program, they will group together.



6. If you want to change the number at which programs are grouped, right-click on the registry file you downloaded, and select Edit.



7. Locate the number at the end of the string dword:0000000x (in this case 3) and change it to something else.



8. Double-click that registry file to re-import it, and your changes will be set.

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How to stop MSN Messenger from ever opening

Though it’s not difficult to stop MSN Messenger from starting when Windows XP boots up, it is a bit trickier to stop it from ever opening (eg. opening Outlook Express also starts MSN Messenger in your system tray).

1. Click the Start button and select Run. Enter gpedit.msc and click OK.

   

2. In the Group Policy editor, select Local Computer Policy -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Messenger. Then double-click the Do not allow Windows Messenger to be run entry.


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3. Select Enabled, click Apply and then Next Setting.


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4. Again, select Enabled and then Apply. Click OK to close the window.


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5. Make sure that both entries are set to Enabled and then exit the Group Policy editor.



6. Congratulations – you’ll never have to deal w/ MSN Messenger again.

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How to determine your Windows XP uptime

1. Click Start, select Run, enter cmd and click OK.



2. At the prompt, enter in systeminfo. Look for the System Up Time: field – and that’s your current uptime.


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Album cover art folder view trick

1. If you download cover-art for your audio files, you can use those images as a part of the “Thumbnail view” in Windows Explorer. If you place an image inside the album folder, it will look like this:

   

2. However, if you rename the image to folder.jpg (or .gif etc), it will look like this:

   

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How to rename the Windows XP Recycle Bin

Because this tip involves editing the registry, please strongly consider backing up the registry first.

1. Click the Start button and select Run. In the dialoge box, enter regedit and click OK.



2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
   ShellNoRoam\MUICache\ and double-click the entry titled @C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll,-8964. Change its Value data: to whatever you want to call your recycle bin.


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3. Close the registry editor, and right-click on an empty part of your desktop. Select Refresh.



4. And your recycle bin should now be called.. whatever you named it.



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