Hacking Windows XP (ExtremeTech Series) FROM OUR EDITORS
The Barnes & Noble Review
Donﾽt settle for the Windows XP Bill Gates gave you. Make it faster...better looking...more secure. We have the technology. And Steve Sinchak will show you how to use it.
The conventional wisdom is thereﾽs little you can do in software to optimize your PC nowadays: Windows XP handles all that itself automatically. But Steve Sinchak has ignored the CW and found some real gems.
For example: Many Pentium 4 systems can be supercharged with a simple (and free) piece of software that optimizes data flow between CPUs and storage devices, and speeds disk I/O. On one system, the Intel Application Accelerator ran software 34 percent faster and cut boot time by 58 percent.
Depending on your system, other tricks might be equally valuable. Moving your paging file off your main drive. Defragging more regularly (bet you donﾽt! Consider using the nifty third-party tool Diskeeper.) Disabling the obscure Registry entry that searches for scheduled tasks on remote computers. (The Registry hacks are actually on CD, so you neednﾽt edit your Registry manually: cool.)
Hacking Windows XP also contains two full chapters on accelerating bootup: from using your BIOS quick boot feature to switching off the Windows logon music.
Once Windows is running faster and more responsively, go tweak its look and feel: everything from the welcome screen and Start panel to IE6 and Windows Explorer. In Part III, Sinchak turns to security and privacy, showing how to use Service Pack 2ﾽs new defenses, protect against spam, spyware, and viruses, even remove stray user information scattered across your PC. Hey, why run Windows when you can run Super Windows? Bill Camarda
Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2003 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks for Dummies, Second Edition.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Sure, Windows XP is already superior to its predecessors. But what if you could make it even better? Well, stop reading the cover and buy this book, because that's exactly what it teaches you. This is the serious stuff -- step-by-step hacks that beef up speed and security, customize screens to make your life easier, and kick performance into overdrive. Roll up your sleeves, make your backups, and go for it!
SYNOPSIS
Check out the view from Steve Sinchak's Windows
Sure, Windows XP is already superior to its predecessors. But what if you could make it even better? Well, stop reading the cover and buy this book, because that’s exactly what it teaches you. This is the serious stuff–step-by-step hacks that beef up speed and security, customize screens to make your life easier, and kick performance into overdrive. Roll up your sleeves, make your backups, and go for it!
Try This
Detailed, step-by-step instructions for these hacks and dozens more Build your own boot screen Tweak task bar and start button Speed launch and execution time Unlock hidden settings Supercharge network speed Blast features you hate, for good Create visual styles Add special visual effects Mod Internet Explorer Lock down system security Benchmark your hardware Scrub spyware and adware
CD-ROMS INCLUDES Registry hacks ready to install Hack templates, and over 45 hacking tools and toys that will help you get the most out of Windows XP
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