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Apr 21, 2006 01:35 PM

Top 10 Windows XP Tips Of All Time

Page 6 of 6


Tip 1: Automatically log when and why shutdowns have occurred.

Love it or hate it, Windows XP is undeniably more stable than its predecessors. But it still crashes, and it still has occasional trouble shutting down. This registry hack logs all shutdown errors, telling you when, where, and why strange and annoying things have happened.

Some folks have the luxury of packing their buggy PC off to a help desk. But if you like to get your hands dirty, consider this essential tweakage.

Here's how to set up logging for unexpected system shutdowns:

1. Open RegEdit and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Reliability

2. Set the ShutDownReasonUI data value to 1. (If this string doesn't exist, create it and set the value to 1.)

3. Exit RegEdit and reboot your PC.

To examine the log you've created, open up the Event Viewer, which you'll find by selecting Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer. Click on the System subheading and you'll see a massive list of system events. Errors will be marked with a red X or a yellow exclamation mark. Double-click on the error and you'll see details that may help you unravel the mystery.



After you've set up system shutdown logging in the registry, use the Event Viewer to find out error details. Click image to enlarge and to see image gallery.


Top 10 Windows XP Tips Of All Time


•  Tip 10: Halt background services to improve performance.

•  Tip 9: Increase available disk space by scaling back System Restore.

•  Tip 8: Scrub your hard drive clean.

•  Tip 7: Run two displays on the same PC.

•  Tip 6: Force unresponsive applications to close at shutdown.

•  Tip 5: Automatically optimize your hard drive.

•  Tip 4: Set a custom resolution.

•  Tip 3: Stay on top of registry changes.

•  Tip 2: Recover lost data.

•  Tip 1: Automatically log when and why shutdowns have occurred.

•  Bonus tips!

•  Image Gallery



Four Bonus Tips


We just couldn't resist throwing in a few more great XP tips. Consider these our honorable mentions:

  • Switch users fast. If you're working on a PC with multiple user accounts, you can bypass the welcome screen when you switch users. Open the Task Manager (click a blank spot in the taskbar and select Task Manager from the pop-up menu), click on the Users tab, right-click on a user name, and choose Connect.

  • Get clearer fonts on your LCD display. There's an easy way to boost the clarity of text on your flat screen. Right-click an empty area of your desktop and click Properties. Click the Appearance tab and then the Effects button. If it's not checked already, check the second option (""Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts"") in this window, and set the pull-down menu to ClearType. On-screen text will now appear considerably sharper.

  • Hibernate Windows manually. Putting your PC into Hibernate mode is a smart way to save power. It operates in a similar fashion to Stand By mode -- it leaves you logged in with your apps running for a quick restart, but it completely shuts down your computer, which saves much more power than Stand By. This makes it handy for laptops, where battery drain is always a concern. When you're in the Shut Down menu, hold down the Shift key and the Stand By option becomes Hibernate.

  • Download TweakUI. Microsoft's downloadable suite of PowerToys includes one of our favorite utilities: TweakUI. This handy app gives you a plethora of ways to customize Windows XP, including changing the location of the My Music and My Documents folders, adjusting Windows' appearance, altering the contents of the Start Menu, and more. It's at least 10 tips in one!

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