This is the list of tricks I often forget:
There is nothing private about them but they don't rate a special public page. They will probably go out of date as people take out the old bugs and put in the new...

Windows 7
To save logging on every time run CONTROL USERPASSWORDS2 on the MSDOS screen.
(You still must have a password to share/use files across a network.)
Select: Advanced
Uncheck the "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" option
When you 'Apply' it will ask you for the user/password to default to.

To get the Menu back in File Explorer: Control Panel | Folder Options | View | Always show Menus.

http://www.avg.com/free for a virus checker.

Don't use Homegroup file sharing as it is W7 to W7 only. The Work system is the normal one.

Control Panel | Display to set the size back to normal or everything is a bit big.


To get rid of most of the 'Administrator' nags:
Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Local Security policy | Local Policies | Security Options
Set Accounts: Administrator account status to Enabled
Set User Account Control: Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account to Disabled

And most important of all: If it looks like something has hung minimise the windows on screen.
W7 seems to be very good at popping up boxes to ask questions underneath other windows.
That one caught me out a couple of times wondering why the CPU gadget is showing no activity and the disk light is off but nothing seems to be happening...

Previous stuff

Making XP boot without a logon sequence:
At a DOS prompt type: CONTROL USERPASSWORDS2
Select: Advanced
Uncheck "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer option"
When you 'apply' it will ask you for the user/password

.jpg files insist on defaulting to .jpeg
Edit the registry:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\image/jpeg]
"Extension"=".jpeg" becomes ".jpg"

Safe mode
F8

Outlook Express won't spell check
To solve this problem, you need a copy of csapi3t1.dll and put it in "Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof" then reboot. Check that "Always check spelling" is enabled in Tools, Options, Spelling.

The csapi3t1.dll file is included with Windows XP, it simply isn't installed by default. Try the i386 folder on the Windows XP CD. (If there isn't a Windows XP CD, the installer should have created an i386 folder somewhere on your hard disk.)

To use the version provided with Windows XP, click on Start, Run, then type:
expand "c:\pathname\i386\csapi3t1.dl_" "c:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof\csapi3t1.dll"

Internet Explorer cuts off the favorites menu
It thinks that you aren't using them so you don't want them.
Uncheck "Enable Personalised Favourites Menu" on the Advanced Options page

The location of the hosts file under XP etc.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Removing device drivers for USB ports that are getting in the way
The tool is pnputil.exe run at a dos prompt.
It takes command line option, -? for help, if it complains run it in 'safe' mode.

Tweaking the extra keys on the keyboard
eg to change the calculator button to Editor 95 change
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AppKey]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AppKey\18]
"ShellExecute"="C:\\Nigel\\Seiki\\Editor95\\Release\\Editor95.exe"

I found a good list as:
KeyFunctionNameValue
1Back (Internet browser)
2Forward (Internet browser)
3Refresh (Internet browser)
4Stop (Internet browser)
5Search
6Favorites
7WebHomeAssociationhttp
8Mute volume
15MailRegisteredAppMail
16MediaAssociation.cda
17My ComputerShellExecute::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
18CalculatorShellExecutecalc.exe
24Mute microphone
25Lower microphone volume
26Raise microphone volume
27Help
28Find
29New
30Open
31Close
32Save
33Print
34Undo
35Redo
36Copy
37Cut
38Paste
39Reply
40Forward (mail)
41Send
42Spelling checker
43Toggle dictation and command/control
44Toggle microphone
45Corrections
Why is my USB port a silly number like COM27?
Device Manager | pick the port | right mouse | properties | port settings | Advances
Yes but it says (in use) against the one I want?
Just select it. It whinges but it does it.

How do you fix it? Well it's no good just selecting them in turn as it only clears them until you reboot.

HKLM/HARDWARE/DEVICEMAP/SERIALCOMM

This seems to be a list of what ports are adopted by what virtual ports. HKLM/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/COM Name Arbiter

The ComDB entry is bits indicating COM1 (x01), COM2 (x02), COM3 (x04), are in use. Edit to 03 00... and only COM1 and 2 will be 'in use'.

HKLM/System/CurrentControlSet/enum/usb

This is all the devices that the usb driver has seen before. The vilian for me was the Prolific driver. You can't delete it but you can find its oemnn.inf file name in /Windows/inf/ and rename it. Look under VID_067B&PID_2303.

Make a Vista admin account work like it does in XP
This works for Vista Business, Enterprise or Ultimate

Control panel, Administritive tools, Local Security policy, Local Policies, Security Options
Set Accounts: Administrator account status to Enabled
Set User Account Control: Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account to Disabled