add more columns to task manager

You can add more column to process page of task manager, this ensures to view more running processes. in this example we gonna show you how to add "virtual memory size" to task manager process page.

• Press alt + ctrl + del to open task manager
• Now click on process tab
• Click on the view menu and click select column
• In the "select column" window select virtual memory size by checking the box
• Click ok
• Now you can see the new column named VM Size , in here you can identify how processes used virtual memory size for each process
  

disable auto reboot when error occured (blue screen)

This will show you how to disable automatic restart option in registry, follow these steps.

• Open registry editor
• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl
• In the right side double click AutoReboot key
• Change the value to 0 to disable and 1 to enable
• Exit registry editor and restart pc
  

windows low on registry space (win 2000)

The most possible cause for this is errors in windows partition, as a result of this error you cannot change the page file values. the first thing to try is using scandisk.

Solution

• Start command prompt
• Type chkdsk /f and press enter, this will ask to schedule scandisk in next restart, press y
• In the restart system will scan the partition you specified, after login to windows your problem will be fixed.

Verify pagefile in registry

• Start > run
• Type regedit and press enter
• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
• In the right side open pagingfiles key
• The default registry value described in here, for example if you set initial size of 2046 and maximum size of 4092 for your pagefile, your registry key value should be C:\pagefile.sys 2046 4092
  

reduce the time of operating system selection menu

If your pc in a dual boot mode (such as xp and vista) you notice that every time you restart or switch on pc operating system selection menu is displayed, the default timeout is 30 seconds, if you want you can reduce default timeout. follow these steps.

• Right click on my computer and click properties
• Click on advanced tab
• Under "startup and recovery" click settings tab
• Now reduce the timeout by clicking the down arrow head in "time to display list of operating systems"
• After done click ok
• Then click apply and ok
• Reboot the pc and you can see the changes for default timeout

Also you can change the default highlighted operating system to most you preferred, for example if you use windows xp and vista, the xp will be on the top and vista will be second choice, but it always highlighted default operating system as vista, if no selection been made before timeout, pc loads windows vista. you can change the default highlighted operating system, to do this follow these steps.

• Right click on my computer and click properties
• Click on advanced tab
• Under "startup and recovery" click settings tab
• In here under "default operating system" the first displayed operating system is the default highlighted operating system, to change the order click down arrow head and select the other operating system you prefer, after done click ok
• Reboot the pc to see the changes
  

to view hidden and super hidden files

To view hidden files in you need to deselect some options in folder option. note that most viruses hide itself for further infections and more damaged to your pc, when you enabled view hidden files option, you can safely delete those viruses, some viruses run itself as a active process, there for you may not be able to delete viruses easily. use runscanner utility to kill virus process. to view hidden files

• Start > run
• Type control.exe folders and press enter
• In the folder option window, click on view tab
• Under "advanced settings" select show hidden files and folders also deselect hide protected operating system files (recommend)
• Click apply and ok

After doing this you can see hidden file and folders, for example just go to the root of C: drive, notice that no of hidden files were in the root of drive (such as "ntldr, ntdetect) read this about how to enable hidden files using registry file.

configure schedule smart disk cleanup in xp

This tip will show you how to create smart disk cleanup, to do this we need to create one batch file, please note that this will clear prefetch files also. follow these steps.

• Create new text document
• Type or copy the following inside text document
• c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe /dc /sageset: 1
  c:
  cd \
  cd c:\windows\prefetch
  del *.* /q
• Now save the text file and change the extension of the file from .txt to .bat (ex - cleanup.bat)
• Now open the bat file you created, this will open disk cleanup settings window
• In here select the options (by clicking check box) you want to configure for disk cleanup
• Click ok
• Now open the bat file again for editing (right click the file and click edit)
• Change the first line to c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe /dc /sagerun: 1
• Save the file
• Execute file for disk cleanup

You can also add schedule task for smart disk cleanup

• Open schedule task folder (start > run > type tasks > press enter)
• Double click add schedule task
• Click next
• Click browse button
• Specify the disk cleanup bat file we created
  
• In the name field type anything, and select the action under "perform this task"
• Now proceed with the schedule task, and click finish at the end.
  

how to repair microsoft outlook pst file errors

With the corrupt outlook data file (PST File) the following things can happen.

• Cant open outlook
  
• Can open outlook, but cant open saved mails
• Cant open contacts
• Cant open calender

Your outlook data file can be corrupt in several ways

• Sudden power off while using outlook
• Restart system (reset) while using outlook

The best way to repair damaged PST file is running scanpst.exe utility, the location of scanpst.exe utility is depending the product you using. (office 2003 or office 2007)

• For office 2003 you can find scanpst.exe in C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033
• For office 2007 you can find scanpst.exe in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12

Note - in here C: mentioned as your windows installation drive

To start repair process double click scanpst.exe to open"inbox repair tool" click browse button and locate PST file for repair process. after specify PST file click start to begin repair process.

• Default outlook 2003 PST file location is C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
• Default outlook 2007 PST file location is C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

how to solve "invalid operating system" error

While you installing windows xp , after text portion of setup completes you need to restart pc, to go in to graphical user interface (GUI) setup. but when you restart pc after completes text portion of setup and booting from hard disk you notice "invalid operating system" error occurs and you cant proceed with the installation. no matter how many times you start all over again problem still occurs.

This can happen because of hard disk contains invalid master boot record. to fixed this issue you have to rewrite MBR code to hard disk. after you you write new MBR code no more errors, you can complete windows xp installation process.

Find out how to fixed MBR code

disable personalized menus in xp

Note - this one is for those who using classic start menu

When you click on start menu and point to programs you notice that some of your programs not displayed in right away. you have to click down arrow head to see rest of the program. this is happen because of personalized menu options, this is unnecessary and you can you can disable it. follow these steps.

• Right click on your taskbar and click Properties
• Click start menu tab
• Now click customize button at the "classic start menu"
• Now scroll down to the bottom
• Now deselect "use personalized menus"
• Click ok
  
• Then "apply" and "ok" to finish

Note - no need to reboot your pc, you'll see the difference right away

disable new program alert in xp

If you install new program to windows xp, it notify you by displaying new program alert, this is funny and sometimes unnecessary. because you already know that you install new program, then why some alert message, lets disable it (if you want)

Note - this can be done only if you use standard xp start menu, there is nothing to configure in classic menu.

• Right click on taskbar and click properties
• Go to the start menu tab and click customize
  
• Click on the advanced tab
• Deselect "Highlight newly installed programs"