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--- decrapping_windows_xp [2007/09/20 14:22] – 24.211.194.239
+++ decrapping_windows_xp [2010/01/07 06:38] (current) – tkbletsc
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+====== not being tracked ======
+Even if your copy is legal, there's no reason to let Windows phone home every time you want to use your computer.  Keep your ethernet unplugged until you've installed Tiny Personal Firewall or equivalent!  Block anything that starts with "wga".
 ====== decrapping windows xp ======
 holy crap is XP dumb when it first comes up.  wow.
 ===== desktop, right click, properties =====
-  * wallpaper -> not dumb
+  * desktop tab
+    * wallpaper -> not dumb
+    * [Customize Desktop], "Run desktop cleanup wizard" -> off
   * appearance tab
     * style -> classic
     * effects: "transition effect" -> off, "hide underlined letters" -> off
-  * resolution -> decent
+  * settings tab
+    * resolution -> decent
 ===== security status warning, click =====
@@ Line 20: / Line 27: @@
   * start menu tab, -> classic menu
   * customize, at bottom of check list, "use personalized menus" -> off
+===== recycle bin, right click, properties =====
+  * "do not move files to the recycle bin" -> on
 ===== explorer =====
@@ Line 55: / Line 65: @@
     * error reporting -> disable
+{{ master-closer.jpg|Fan favorite}}
 ===== control panel - user accounts =====
+  * change my password -> to one that isn't blank
   * if you got a retarded icon by default or something, change it (even though you'll likely never see it again)
   * "change the way users logon"
     * "use welcome" -> off
     * "fast user switching" -> off
+===== enable auto login =====
+  - Click Start, click Run, and type "control userpasswords2". This is a shortcut instead of having to click on Start -> Control Panel -> User Accounts.
+  - Uncheck the "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" check box.
+  - Click Apply.
+  - Enter the user name and password you wish to automatically log on with, and then click OK.
+  - Click OK again and you're all done.
+(from http://8help.osu.edu/2063.html)
 ===== control panel - administrative tools - services =====
@@ Line 65: / Line 86: @@
   * automatic updates -> stop and set to manual
   * themes -> stop and set to manual
+===== find tool =====
+  * hit Win+F or click "Search" in explorer to bring up find dialog
+  * retarded dog appears.
+  * "change preferences", "without an animated character"
+  * "change preferences", "change file and folder search behavior", -> "advanced", [Ok]
+===== control panel - sounds =====
+  * sounds tab, pick "start navigation" from program events, set sound to "(None)" -- this kills that annoying click every time you open a folder
 ===== control panel - mouse (maybe) =====
   * pointer scheme -> 3d bronze (or manually switch just the animated hourglasses)
+===== Disable Recent Document History =====
+  * Start | Run | gpedit.msc
+  * User Configuration | Administrative Template | Start Menu and Task Bar
+  * "Do not keep history of recently opened documents" -> Enable.
+===== disable autoplay =====
+To completely disable all forms of autorun/autoplay:
+  * Start | Run | "GPEDIT.MSC"
+  * On left panel, "Computer Configuration" | "Administrative Templates" | "System"
+  * In right panel, Set "Turn autoplay off" to enabled with either "CD-ROM drives" or "All drives" (USB keys, etc.)
 ===== install firefox =====
@@ Line 76: / Line 117: @@
 ===== updates =====
-http://windizupdate.com
+Avoid being tracked by Microsoft "Genuine Advantage" by installing updates with [[http://www.autopatcher.com/|autopatcher]].
+([[http://windizupdate.com|Windiz Update]] is no longer maintained)
+If you decide to use automatic updates, you should lengthen (or eliminate) the "restart reminder" interval, which defaults to a mind-searingly frustrating 10 minutes.
+  * Run "gpedit.msc"
+  * Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update
+  * Either enable "No auto-restart for schedule Automatic Updates installations" to turn off the nags, or set "Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations" to a larger interval (e.g. 1440 minutes = 24 hours).
+(instructions [[http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000294.html|from here]])