My Favorite XP Tweaks at Install

XP Reinstall Checklist

1. Turn off M$ auto-update.
Control Panel/System/Auto Update
IE/Tools/Internet options/Advanced scroll to find auto update for M$ IE and uncheck

2. XP Firewall is enabled by default. Disable by
Control Panel/Network Connections/Local Area Connections/General/Properties/Advanced

3. Password Expiration (Pro only, I think)
Control Panel/ Administrative Tools/Local Security Policy/
change password expiration to 0

4. Disable annoying balloon tips
Go to the M$ site and download TweakUI (Powertoys) and navigate to Taskbar- uncheck the balloon tip box

5. Set up start menu
right click on taskbar/ Properties
I have Lock the taskbar, keep taskbar on top/ and enable Quicklaunch checked.

6. Turn off auto restart
Control Panel/System/Advanced/Startup and recovery
uncheck auto restart to prevent an endless loop of boots when you are having trouble

7.Set Folder options
Control Panel/Folder options/view
scroll through the list and determine what works best for you
I want my system folders to show, and my file extensions not hidden. I also want it to remember how I closed the window the next time I open it. Check remember folder's view settings and press the control key while closing each window to set it.

8. set log on password
I use this mainly for the keyboard lock which is windows key and "L" pressed together. (I have 2 preschoolers who love to push buttons!)
Control Panel/User Accounts/Select Account/Password

9. Get Rid of Bliss
Go to Control Panel/Display/Desktop
scroll to none, pick your color- I like XP default blue or plain black

10. Get rid of M$ Messenger
windows-help.net

XP Shortcuts

Disable Searching ZIP files
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\zipfldr.dll /u

Uninstall MS Messenger
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

Disable XP Search Assistant
1 Start the Registry Editor
2 Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ CabinetState \
3 Right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New > String Value
4 Name the new value Use Search Asst
5 Double-click this new value, and enter no as it's Value data
6 Close the registry editor

Disable IE Search Assistant

1 Start the Registry Editor
2 Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Main \
3 Right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New > String Value
4 Name the new value Use Search Asst
5 Double-click this new value, and enter no as it's Value data
6 Close the registry editor

** to disable those changes:
just delete the key you created,
or change the Value Data from no to yes.

Stop Dial-up Prompt [2 steps]

Step 1: Set the option to Never dial a connection
in Internet Explorers Tools > Options > Connections

Step 2: Click Start > Control Panel
Click Network and Internet Connections,
Click Network Connections
From the menu, choose Advanced > Dial-up Preferences,
and uncheck the Autodial check box for your location
under Enable autodial by location

 

Nice little PDF file Here . Explains a little more about some of the Services and what happens when some of them are enabled or disabled.

Ski