[hanyj]

Thank you for the tips.
For Tweak $ 1, does it uninstall windows messenger, or just prevents it from starting automatically?
I want to keep windows messenger, but I do NOT want it to start automatically, and keep restarting itself everytime I end its process!!

[Advertisements]

Thanks for the tweeks.

[Victor Creed]

Thanks for the tweeks.

[drew2815]

If you delete Windows Messenger, will it delete MSN Messenger?

[-=jonnyrotten=-]

Nope, Windows Messenger is different than MSN Messenger. I have it totally removed from my system and talk on MSN msgr all the time

-=jonnyrotten=-

[drew2815]

Thanks....I guess I will delete Windows Messenger then

[drew2815]

When I try to do the Windows Messenger teak, I copy paste what you said to put in run but it doesnt do anything. No screens pop up or anything.

[canad1an]

One of my personal favorites.
Hacking the Windows XP 'Start' Text


Before you get started, you might want to print out this page for easy reference.

Change the Start text

1. First of all, make sure you download Resource Hacker. You'll need this puppy to edit resources inside your Windows shell.

2. Locate explorer.exe in your c:\Windows directory. Make a copy of the file in the same directory and rename it explorer.bak.

3. Now launch Resource Hacker. In the File menu, open explorer.exe. You'll now see a bunch of collapsed folders.

4. Expand the String Table folder and then find folder No. 37 (folder No. 38 if you're in Windows Classic mode).

5. Click on resource 1033 and locate the text that says "Start." This is your Start button, and now you've got control over what it says! Change the "Start" text to your text of choice. You don't have a character limit, but the text takes up valuable taskbar space, so don't make it too long.

6. Click on the button labeled Compile Script. This updates the settings for your Start button. But nothing will happen until you complete through step #20, so keep going!

Change your hover text

7. While you're here, why not also change the text that pops up when your mouse hovers over your Start button?

8. Right now it says "Click here to begin." Well, duh! We already know that's where to begin!

9. Open folder No. 34 and click on resource 1033.

10. Find the text that says "Click here to begin" and change it to something cooler. Might I suggest "Click here for a good time, baby."

11. Click on the Compile Script button to update this resource.

Customize your Start icon

12. For an added bonus, you can also change the Windows icon to the left of the text, too.

13. Collapse the String Table folder and expand the Bitmap folder at the top of your folder list.

14. Click on folder No. 143 and click on resource 1033. You should see that familiar Windows icon.

15. Go to the Action Menu and select "Replace bitmap." Select "Open file with new bitmap", and locate the replacement image on your machine. Note: The image must have a .bmp extension and a size of 25 pixels by 20 pixels. Then click the Replace button.

Here's the image I've been using instead of the Windows icon, in case you want to use it.

tinyblackwhiteavatar

16. Now that you've made your changes, save the file in your Windows folder with another name, such as newstartbutton.exe. Don't name it Explorer.exe, because that file is already being used by your system. Close all open programs and restart your system.

17. Boot into Safe Mode With Command Prompt by pressing F8 on startup. Then choose Safe Mode in the command prompt.

18. Log on as administrator and enter your password.

19. When the command prompt comes up, make sure you're in the right directory by typing "cd c:\windows" (without the quotes).

20. Now type "copy c:\windows\newstartbutton.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe" (no quotes). Type "yes" (no quotes) to overwrite the existing file, then restart your system by typing "shutdown -r" (no quotes).

When Windows relaunches, you'll see your new Start button in all its glory!

[compiler]

Tweak #1: Turn Off Windows Messenger For Good

Have you tried to disable messenger, but it still shows in the system tray icon every now and then? If so, this next tweak is for you. To completely turn off Windows Messenger:

1. Go to "Start", the "Run"
2. Type in "RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove" and press enter
3. Restart and you'll never see Windows Messenger again!

How to do if the user wants to turn one the Messenger late?

[Smokey]

"Control Panel", "Add/Remove Programs", "Add-Remove Windows Components", Uncheck "Windows Messenger", press "Next"

[morfius]

an easy way to speed up multi tasking and full screen applications is to switch your theme to windows classic.

If you want your pc to perform, don't care about a flashy theme, wallpaper, screensaver etc. Also try to keep as little amount of shortcuts on the desktop as possible.

[Trifick]

Thanks so much for the tips!

Jusy a quick (and possibly stupid) question though. While switching off the indexing service, is it normal to get a load of errors applying the attributes to files because "Access is denied" to those files?

Sorry if its a stupid question and thanks in advance.

[noahdfear]

Here's one I like.

Disable Automatic Search for Network Printers and Folders in Windows XP

Most users don't need it and notice a faster logon.


Trifick,

Quite normal.

[MR0624]

any more tweaks?

[eguerrier]

Hello Smokey:

Thank you very much for your tweaks. I implemented the indexing one as soon as I read it yesterday.

[Crustyoldbloke]

Just a quick point aimed at no one in particular. If you get rid of Windows Messenger, you won't be able to use REMOTE ASSISTANCE through MSN Messenger.