Windows 2000 Hints & Tips

Rev. 3.9

  






Topics Description
How to make your mouse more accurate Is your mouse moving in spurts? Follow this tip to regain its original pixel-level accuracy.
 
How to change drive letters Want to change the drive letters of your hard disks and removable drives? Then this is the tip for you!
 
How to initialize your modem after booting up Modem doesn't work because you forgot to turn it on while booting up Windows 2000? Try these tips!
 
How to improve CD audio quality Here's a tip that improves CD audio quality! Note that users of USB speakers will need to follow this tip in order to be able to listen to CD audio.
 
How to prevent programs from loading during startup Ever wondered how to remove those pesky tray applications that Windows 2000 loads even if you don't use them? Check this tip out!
 
How to change data monitored by Task Manager Wondering how to monitor more than just CPU time and RAM use in Task Manager? Here's how!
 
How to create a fast serial port Want to squeeze out everything you can out of your serial connection? This tip tells you how!
 
How to create a fast parallel port Your printer / scanner not as responsive as you would like? See if this tip helps!
 
How to improve the IDE transfer rate Your dream machine still showing jerkiness even with the latest and greatest hardware installed? Maybe your hard disk or CD-ROM is still running on PIO transfer mode. Try this tip.
 
How to disable IDE port scanning at start up Bored waiting for Windows 2000 to boot up? This tip may just be the thing for you.
 
Alternative method to reduce the volume of your US Robotics modem Modem's volume control not working? Try this tip!
 
 
Quick access in Windows 2000 Tired of going through all the elaborate steps just to get to Task Manager or Device Manager? Here's an entire section on tips to help you get there faster!
 
Access to more Windows 2000 components Can't get rid of Pinball or other Windows 2000 components because they are not even listed in Windows Components Wizard? Try this tip!
 
How to disable DHCP at start up Is your Windows 2000 system taking a long time to boot up? Well, if you are using a connection that does not use DHCP, this tip will help you speed things along!
 
How to use Services to save memory Running low on RAM? Would like to squeeze some out of Windows 2000 itself? Try this tip!
 
How to configure your Explorer shortcut Sick of viewing the contents of the My Documents folder every time you run Windows Explorer? These tips will help you speed up file management.
 
Command Prompt In Any Directory Tired of typing in long path and file names in the command prompt? This tip will enable you to navigate via Windows Explorer to your desired directory and open a command prompt there!
 
How to remove the need for modem detection at start up Modem doesn't work because you forgot to turn it on while booting up Windows 2000? This tip will permanently solve your problem!
   
How to improve scrolling speed Is your mouse wheel producing excruciatingly slow scrolls? This simple tip will quickly solve that problem!
   
Windows Explorer In Any Directory Do you want the ability to open up a new Explorer window with restricted access/focus in whichever folder you want? Try this tip!
   
Command Prompt Name Completion Tired of typing long file names (LFNs) in Command Prompt? This great tip will enable you to automatically complete the names just by hitting the TAB key!
   
Permanent COM Port Settings Scratching your head over COM port settings that mysteriously reset themselves whenever you restart Windows 2000? We have the solution you seek!
   

 

 

Date Rev. Changes
26-11-2000 1.0 Initial release
29-11-2000 1.1 Added tips on how to create a faster serial and parallel ports
Also added some notes to the better CD audio quality tip
02-12-2000 1.2 Added tips on how to improve the IDE transfer rate and reduce Windows 2000 boot up time.
09-12-2000 1.3 Added notes about a quicker method for getting to the Task Manager as well as IDE and PCI bandwidth consideration when enabling digital CD audio.
Added a tip on an alternative method of reducing the volume of a US Robotics modem.
19-12-2000 1.4 Added some tips about how to gain quick access to several properties sheet and processes like Task Manager and Device Manager.
Also updated the tip on the alternative method to reduce the volume of the USR modem.
22-12-2000 1.5 Added a tip on how to get access to more Windows 2000 components in the Windows Components Wizard.
28-12-2000 1.6 Added a tip on how to speed up boot time for systems with connections that don't use DHCP.
Added a new tip on how to gain quick access to the Task Manager.
01-01-2001 2.0 Happy New Year!!!
Added a new tip on how to quickly access the Task Manager.
Added a new tip on how to disable DHCP for a quicker boot time.
Corrected numerous minor formatting, spelling and HTML errors throughout the entire guide. 
04-01-2001 2.1 Added a new tip on how to save some RAM by using Services.
25-01-2001 2.2 Added a new tip on how to initialize the modem after booting up.
26-01-2001 2.3 Added several new tips on how to configure the Windows Explorer shortcut for easier file management.
28-01-2001 2.4 Added two new tips on how to configure the Windows Explorer shortcut to display alternate directories as the root directory.
Also added some notes to the tip on how to improve CD audio quality.
30-01-2001 2.5 Added a new tip on enabling command prompt access in any directory at any time.
03-02-2001 2.6 Added two new tips on how to configure the Windows Explorer shortcut to display My Computer.
Added another way to get Windows Explorer to display the Main Drive with the Folders bar.
Added the registry entries in text so that the creation of the registry file can be a simple matter of cut and paste instead of manual typing which may produce errors.
16-02-2001 3.0 Remade the Quick Access page into an entirely new section devoted to quick access tips.
Added new tips on how to access the Start Menu for the current user and all users instantly. 
17-03-2001 3.1 Added a new tip on how to permanently solve the modem detection problem at start up as well as a tip on how to improve the scrolling speed. 
19-03-2001 3.2 Added two new tips on how to configure the Windows Explorer shortcut to display My Computer.
Added a note on the need for a disk to be present in CD/DVD/ZIP drives for the 'How To Change Drive Letters' tip.
22-03-2001 3.3 Added three more Quick Access tips.
Added a note about modem autodetection even when the need for modem detection at start up had been removed.
28-03-2001 3.4 Added three new Quick Access tips including an additional tip for minimizing all opened applications to display the desktop. 
04-04-2001 3.5 Revamped the Command Prompt In Any Directory section.
Added a new method and notes to the Command Prompt In Any Directory section.
Added a new Accurate Mouse tip!
06-05-2001 3.6 Added removal tips to the Command Prompt In Any Directory section.
27-08-2001 3.7 Added a new tip on how to open up a new Explorer window with access restricted to a certain folder.
Changed the Command Prompt In Any Directory tip so that the Folders Option method will now display long filenames by default. 
29-08-2001 3.8 Added a new tip on how to enable name completion in Command Prompt.
Added a new Quick Access tip on how to search for computers on a network.
Corrected the Command Prompt In Any Directory tip which previously stated that the /k command will cause the Command Prompt to display files in the old DOS 8.3 format.
07-09-2001 3.9 Added a new tip on how to make the COM port settings permanent.
Updated the Command Prompt In Any Directory tip (both Folder Option and Registry Fix methods) with the correct commands for the tip to work in both the Folders bar as well as the main Explorer window in LFN mode.

 

  
 

 

  
     
   

 

  
 

 
   

 

  
 
Last Updated 06-09-2001

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Copyright © 1998-2000 Adrian Wong. All rights reserved.

  
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