AutoPlay
Among the many outstanding features in Windows is AutoPlay, which automatically starts playing a CD when it is put in the drive. However, not everybody wants this automatic feature. On a one-time basis, you can stop AutoPlay by holding down the Shift key when you insert the CD. But if you want a permanent change, get TweakUI, a part of Microsoft's (MS) Power Toys . After you install TweakUI, here's how to make the change. In WinXP, click Start, All Programs, PowerToys for WinXP, and TweakUI for WinXP. Click My Computer, AutoPlay, Drives, clear the check mark from the CD drive letter, and click Apply and OK. In Win98/ME, click Start, Settings, and Control Panel. Now double click TweakUI, select the Paranoia tab, clear "Play audio CDs automatically," and click Apply and OK.

Saving Chats
To take notes of a conversation you have with a co-worker or client at the office or for other purposes at home, use MSN Messenger to chat with that person. There’s no need to scribble down notes as you type them. Instead, you can save a copy of an entire conversation with someone in MSN Messenger in the event there’s need later to refer to some important information within that conversation. To save a conversation, you must choose File, and Save from the Conversation on window's menu bar. Optionally, navigate to the folder in which you want to place the conversation, or just use the My Documents folder. Type in a filename for the conversation and click the Save button. The chat is placed in a text file. To review the conversation, you just navigate to the folder containing it and open the text file.

Scanned Documents
You can select the folder on your computer to store your scanned document. To determine which folder you want to use, take a look at these options.

My Pictures: If you want to be able to quickly access the scanned document in the future, store the document in the My Pictures folder.

Subfolder within My Pictures: To keep the scanned document separate from other pictures in the My Pictures folder, store the document in a subfolder within the My Pictures folder. To remember the subfolder, you can select the name you gave the scanned document.

Shared Pictures: If you want other users set up on your computer to be able to access the scanned document, store the document in the Shared Pictures folder. The   Shared Pictures folder is stored in the Shared Documents folder on your computer.

Screen Tips
WinXP extensively uses ScreenTips to provide a way of adding commentary or footnotes to features. When you run your mouse pointer over a certain part of the screen, a little black-outlined, pale-yellow rectangle pops up with some more or less informative text. In some cases, such as with some Internet search results, this text can amount to a paragraph's worth of context-sensitive material.

Searches for Pictures, Music, or Video
The WinXP search feature lets you restrict your file search to picture or photographic files, sound files, or video files. To search for files containing these kinds of media, you open the Search Results window by clicking Start, Search, and then the Pictures, Music, or Video hyperlink at the top of the Search Companion Explorer bar on the left side of the window. Click the check box for the type of files (Pictures and Photos, Music and Sound, or Video) that you're looking for and then enter the complete or partial filename in the “All or Part of the Filename” text box. Remember that you can use the wildcard characters ? (for single missing characters) and * (for multiple missing characters) when entering the name of the file(s) to locate. After you finish selecting the type of files and the name of the file(s) to locate, click the Search button. Windows then lists all the files of the specified type that match the specific filename on the right side of the Search Results window.

Service Pack 1
Service Pack 1 (SP1) allows computer manufacturers and users a variety of options in making default settings for certain popular programs including Web browser, e-mail, instant messenger and media player for audio and video. For example, a new button on the Windows start menu, titled "set program access and defaults," allows users to choose between four default options: computer manufacturer choice, MS only software, non-MS software, and customized settings which is the default choice. Users can choose to set defaults to one program but also display alternative programs. They can also hide other programs so that the icons are not on the desktop or in other areas, thus eliminating easy access to the programs.

There are several other changes included in this SP. About 32 million copies of WinXP have been sold since its release in October 2001. Some WinXP users are having trouble installing the operating system's first SP. Although SP1 plugs a hole in the operating system (OS), the fix has been painful for a small but vocal few of the estimated 1 million users who have downloaded the update, which MS posted on September 9, 2002. Users shunning SP1 are vulnerable to the major flaw that MS addresses in the SP. A recently discovered glitch in WinXP's Help and Support Center functions could enable a malicious cracker to remotely delete files off a user's hard disk. If you don’t want to download the entire SP1 program, just download and install all the “hot fixes”.

One of the problems created by SP1 is that some users can’t switch between e-mail accounts in Outlook Express (OE). MS is aware of this problem but hasn’t fixed it. Fortunately there’s a way around this problem. In OE click, File, Identities, and Manage Identities. Next click Use this identity when starting a program to clear its check box, and then click Close. Thereafter, OE will prompt you twice to select an identity every time it is opened.

Shortcut Keys
Older versions of Windows had underlined letters in its menus. Instead of clicking the mouse on menu items, you could press Alt and the underlined letter to activate that menu item, e. g., a shortcut key. Although WinXP leaves them out, you can turn them back on by right-clicking the Desktop, choosing Properties, and clicking the Appearance tab. Now click the Effects button and remove the checkmark from the line “Hide Underlined Letters for Keyboard Navigation Until I press The Alt Key.” These underlines all appear ready for shortcuts.

Sound Sentry
Windows includes SoundSentry. Once activated, it will visually alert you with a flashing bar, active window, or desktop. You can also make programs display captions for the speech and sounds made by them. To use SoundSentry, open the Control Panel off the Start menu. Double-click on Accessibility Options and select the Sound tab. Check “Use SoundSentry” and choose the type of visual warning you'd prefer. You can also check “Use ShowSounds” here, too, and click OK for the changes to take effect.

Sound Volume
Although MS designed WinXP to be easier than ever to use, the programmers made mistakes when it came to changing the volume. To put the volume control back where it belongs, right next to the little clock in the bottom right corner of the screen, click the Start, Control Panel, and Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices icon. Click the Sounds and Audio Devices icon and select the Place Volume Icon in the Taskbar check box. A little speaker then appears next to your clock. Click OK to close the window. Now, if you need to increase or decrease the sound up or down in a hurry, click the little speaker by your clock. A volume control appears enabling you to increase/decrease the sound by sliding the control up or down. To turn the sound off completely, click the Mute box.

Speech-Recognition Profile
The best way to set up your WinXP speech-recognition system is to create a speech profile. Doing so will take you through a wizard that simplifies the process. If you share a computer with other users, your speech profile will automatically be selected and ready to go each time you log on to the computer. The process of creating a speech profile takes about 10 or 15 minutes. Open the Control Panel. In Classic view, open the Speech icon and click the Speech Recognition tab. Click the New button to create a new profile. When the wizard starts, just follow the instructions.

Start Menu
In WinXP, the left side of the Start menu displays quick access to recently used programs. You may have noticed that items above the thin gray line within that menu never change. In MS language, those items are "pinned" to the menu. Items below the gray line change quite frequently to reflect programs you've used recently. You may want to put some different programs above the gray line so that they're always available on the menu. You may also want to remove a program for which there is no longer a need. By right-clicking on any program name in that menu, you’ll see several options, such as: Pin to Start menu: Pins the item to the upper portion of the menu, so it never gets "bumped" by recently used programs. Unpin from Start menu: If the item is already pinned to the menu, use this option to "unpin" it. Remove from This List: Takes the item off the menu. Rename: Lets you change the name that the option displays.

Start-Up Disk
To make a start up disk for either Win2000/XP, start with a blank, formatted floppy disk. Next open your C: drive in Windows Explorer. If Explorer displays a warning, click “Show the contents of this folder.” To display the particular files you need, select Tools, Folder Options, and click the View tab. Make sure Show hidden files and folders is selected, and uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended). At the warning, click Yes and OK. Copy the files boot.ini, ntdetect.com, and ntdr to your floppy. Remove the disk, open the write-protect switch in its bottom-left corner, and label the floppy “Boot Disk.” Return to the Folder Options dialog box and recheck Hide protected operating system files and folders. If your computer hangs while loading, you may not need this disk. Simply reboot and press F8 as your computer begins to reload the OS to see a menu of boot options. You may have to press F8 twice to access the full menu. Your best option for restoring your computer is to select Last Known Good Configuration. If this choice does not work, try selecting Safe Mode.

There are several web sites that have useful WinXP information that can enhance your computer experience. They are: IDG.net with useful XP information from PC World Magazine issues; Microsoft with information and patches for XP; Active Network has XP compatibility lists; WinPlanet contains useful tips, files, and software reviews.; and Unique-City is an online community of XP users who share tweaks, downloads, and discussions.