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View Full Version : XP Has power tweaks and they are so great if you don't download these you are crazy!


el
11-02-01, 02:26 PM
okay I went to www.microsoft.com and download the power tweaks for XP only and they are so tight it really makes XP heads and shoulders above any other OS. okay maybe the stole all the good ideas from linux and Macs but hey it is very sweet. I am so happy to have the four desktops like in Linux! very nice I may have to send M$ a thank you card or something. I must be crazy!

details

Super-Fast User Switcher
When using the regular Fast User Switching you must first go back to the Logon screen to switch to another user but with this PowerToy you can switch users without having to go back there. You simply press and hold the Windows key and then press the Q key to cycle through available users. When the desired user tile is showing on the screen release the Windows key to switch to this user.
Note: You cannot use this toy unless you are on a workgroup and you have Fast User Switching enabled.


Open Command Window Here
This PowerToy adds an "Open Command Window Here" context menu option on file system folders. This gives users a quick way to open a command window (cmd.exe) pointing at the selected folder. After installation, right click on the folder you would like to have a quick launch command window for and select "Open Command Window Here."


Tweak UI
Provides access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface. There are many settings and options that you can only set from Tweak UI. You can setup your mouse to your liking by setting click speed, hover sensitivity, etc. You can also customize many Explorer settings, taskbar settings, My Computer settings, and a wide variety of other settings.


Power Calculator
This calculator has the support to graph and evaluate functions as well as performing many different types of conversions.


Task Switcher
This PowerToy enhances the existing Alt + Tab application switching mechanism of Windows XP. It provides a thumbnail preview of windows in the task list and is compliant with the new Windows XP visual style. You use this just as you do the existing Alt + Tab mechanism. Press and hold the Alt key and then press the Tab key to cycle through the running applications. When the desired application is highlighted release the Alt key. You can move backwards through the task list by pressing and holding the Shift and Alt key and then pressing the Tab key.


Image Resizer
This PowerToy enables you to resize one or many image files. When resizing you can choose from one of four standard sizes or choose a size that you specify. You can also choose to resize the original image or create a new one. Right click any image(s) and select 'Resize Pictures' in the context menu.


CD Slide Show Generator
Enables you to view images burned to a cd as a slide show. Add only images to a CD-RW drive using Windows XP Explorer and then write these files to a CD-R or CD-RW disc. A new task is presented in the wizard for generating the autorun for the slideshow. Now when you take this disc to another computer that isn't running Windows XP you can still view your images as a slide show.


Virtual Desktop Manager OMG IT IS COOL
Manage up to 4 desktops from the Windows taskbar. You can choose a different background for each desktop and run different applications on different desktops. Right click on the taskbar, click toolbars, and then click "Desktop Manager."


Taskbar Magnifier
Allows you to magnify part of the screen from the taskbar. This is very similar to Magnifier that can be found under the Accessories menu on the Start Menu except that this PowerToy remains in the taskbar and has a smaller viewing area. Right click on the taskbar, click toolbars, and then click "Taskbar Magnifier."


HTML Slide Show Wizard
This wizard helps you create a slide show of your digital pictures. When you're done, you can put your slide show on the Web so that your family and friends can view it. Follow the steps of the wizard to select and arrange your pictures, choose from a few simple options, and then save a Web-ready HTML slide show to a folder.


Webcam Timershot
This PowerToy allows you to take pictures from one of the webcams connected to your computer at specified time intervals. When a picture is taken it is saved to a location and with a name that you specify. A simple save option allows you to save all the pictures or only the last picture taken. You can save the pictures to a network share, an ftp share, or an http webdav share.

el
11-02-01, 02:33 PM
picture

foxmulder
11-02-01, 04:48 PM
hehe that's the background I use

el
11-02-01, 05:55 PM
I switched the background to jpegs so less memory is used and now I added numbers so I could tell the difference between the different desktops.

touser
11-02-01, 06:18 PM
would you mind posting a direct link to these? i cant seem to find them :(

Oni
11-02-01, 06:20 PM
Originally posted by el

Virtual Desktop Manager OMG IT IS COOL
Manage up to 4 desktops from the Windows taskbar. You can choose a different background for each desktop and run different applications on different desktops. Right click on the taskbar, click toolbars, and then click "Desktop Manager."


Hmmm, 4 desktops eh? Sounds like Microsoft is ripping more ideas off of KDE for Linux.

Yodums
11-02-01, 06:54 PM
touser : http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp


I'm going to go update to Win XP just for that LOL!

Yodums
11-02-01, 06:55 PM
By the way did you set your taskbars and title bars to look whitish/chromish it looks l33t.

JigPu
11-02-01, 07:30 PM
Originally posted by el
I switched the background to jpegs so less memory is used and now I added numbers so I could tell the difference between the different desktops.
That's an awesome idea!!!! I've used Litestep before, and their VWM (virtual window manager) let you use 4 desktops at the same time, but since you couldn't have diffrent backgrounds, it was kinda confusing to figure out which screen you were on....

JigPu

Yodums
11-02-01, 07:33 PM
ITs alright if you love compressing stuff so much eheheh

el
11-02-01, 07:45 PM
try these hacks too they really are great gets rid of stupid MS instant messager.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_tips.asp


XP IS SO COOL

other thing hidden in the above link is album covers on the folders to your MP3 folders. now that is tight! need MP3 codex cuz M$ still sucks with their own format.

M$ stole so much but I think they are getting everything correct finally!

el
11-02-01, 07:47 PM
Originally posted by Yodums
By the way did you set your taskbars and title bars to look whitish/chromish it looks l33t.

yeah just change it from blue to silver and it look very nice! thanks.

MrOOBiLL
11-02-01, 08:57 PM
I just got the powertoys, and could someone please tell me what the oint is of using the desktop manager? I just cant think of a good reason for using multiple desktops... ???

Yodums
11-02-01, 09:04 PM
Multiple desktop are meant to have another desktop waitin for you if one crashes or something.. If you ever used Linux you'll see it has like 4 Desktops and uncrashable.. LOL

MrOOBiLL
11-02-01, 09:27 PM
Originally posted by Yodums
Multiple desktop are meant to have another desktop waitin for you if one crashes or something.. If you ever used Linux you'll see it has like 4 Desktops and uncrashable.. LOL
Ok.... but if your desktop crashes, how do you expect to be able to open up a new one (from the frozen/corrupt desktop)??? :eek: :D

Yodums
11-02-01, 09:56 PM
I'm not sure how to XP works with this multiple desktop things but in Linux you just click one of the other squares in the bottom taskbar but I know in XP it isn't the same.. You have to mess around with it.

el
11-02-01, 10:17 PM
so you can have tons of stuff open and not have to rearrange stuff when you want to edit a huge PS file or something like that. It is shared setting by default. turn that off and you will see that it is more practical and useful that way.


XP hasn't crashed once yet on an unstable overclocked of 1001mhz on a POS 750. guess this makes the overclock stable :)
but prime does fail after 5minutes or so. stupid round off errors.

Yodums
11-02-01, 10:43 PM
After seeing too much power from this I decided to go back to Win XP :D

el
11-03-01, 08:55 AM
Originally posted by Yodums
After seeing too much power from this I decided to go back to Win XP :D

go back to XP what else is there out there? Linux? LOL