1. How to enable/disable the compressed (zipped) folder feature in XP?

Today tip will help you to enable/disable the built-in feature of compression or de-compression in windows XP. Windows display the several default frequently used shortcuts in "Send To" menu, for example Compressed (zipped) Folder and others. But if you want to use any third-party application in windows XP for compression or de-compression then you can disable this windows built-in compressed folder feature.
Follow the given steps to disable the windows built-in compressed folder feature:
To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.
Click Start button and then click on Run option to open run dialog box.
Now type the following command in Run box and press Ok button.
regsvr32 /u %windir%\system32\zipfldr.dll
A small message will appear with title "RegSvr32" and the message is "DllUnregisterServer in C:\WINDOWS\system32\zipfldr.dll succeeded." Click on Ok button.
Now right click on any file or folder to verify the change.
Follow the given steps to enable the windows built-in compressed folder feature:
Now again click Start button and click on Run option to open run dialog box.
Now type the following command in Run box and press Ok button.
regsvr32 %windir%\system32\zipfldr.dll
A small message will appear with title "RegSvr32" and the message is "DllUnregisterServer in C:\WINDOWS\system32\zipfldr.dll succeeded." Click on Ok button.
Now right click on any file or folder to verify the change.
(Source : www.computerfreetips.com)

2. How to secure/hide folders on personal computer?

Today tip is very helpful to hide and secure your personal data from other users, particularly on home computer. Just imagine if multiple users are using the same computer at home or in office environment then there is no any 100% secure method to protect your personal files. You may be used any third party tools to protect your folders but it is not recommended by Microsoft to use such kinds of tools. Using built-in windows (XP, 2003, Vista) Attrib commands option, you can change the attributes of a folder (Read only, Hidden and System attributes) and safe your data.
Follow the given steps to edit the folders attributes to secure your data:
To enable this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.
Now create a folder that you want to hide on any computer drive. (For example, you have created a folder on D drive with the name Data)
First click on Start button and type CMD in Run box then press Ok button to display the windows command prompt.
Now type the command "attrib +s +h D:\Data" without quotation marks and press Enter button to execute it.
This command will hide your "Data" folder from D drive and now you can verify it.
Any one cannot unhide this folder using windows "Show hidden files and folders" option also.
When you want to unhide this folder, again open command prompt and type the command "attrib -s -h D:\Data" and press Enter button. If you want to hide files then simply move all these files to this "Data" folder. (Source : www.computerfreetips.com)

3. How to enable the advance performance setting in windows vista?

If you have noticed that the speed of your system is very slow with windows vista then today tip is very useful for you to increase the performance of windows vista. There is some default setting in vista which is used to manage the write caching on disk. By default windows enabled the write caching on disk but the advanced performance setting is disabled.
Follow the given steps to configure the advance performance setting in Windows Vista:
To enable this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.
First right click on My Computer icon then select the option Manage.
Here small windows will appear with title Computer Management, now select the Device Manager option, then locate the SATA Disk under the Disk Drives.
Here select the enable advanced performance sittings on the SATA disk.
Now click on Ok button to apply the setting and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect. (Source : www.computerfreetips.com)

4. How to show your favorite name in windows Taskbar?

In windows XP, you can create a great fun for others by using this trick. You can display your name or any other favorite word in windows taskbar just beside the digital time area and you can surprise your friends to show them your name in windows taskbar. If you have some knowledge to edit the windows control panel settings then you can do it very easily and next time you can reverse these changes same as you done.
Follow the given steps to display the name in windows task bar:
To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.
First click on windows Start button> Setting then click on Control Panel option.
Here double click on "Regional and Language Options" to edit the Regional default settings.
Now click on Customize button under the "Standard and formats" area, here a new dialog box
title will open with "Customize Regional Options".
Select "Time" tab on the "Customize Regional Options" dialog box.
Now go to "AM symbol" & "PM symbol" and type the name that you want to display in windows
task bar and click on Apply button to affect these settings.
Now click on Ok button to end the process and enjoy you name in windows taskbar.
(Source : www.computerfreetips.com)

5. Sharing a Printer on a Home Network

Sharing a printer across your home network is much easier than sharing files, folders and drives.
Instead of using Windows Explorer, we need to use Windows' Printers and Faxes dialog box.
You may have Printers and Faxes on the Start Menu. Windows XP Home has this displayed by default on the right-hand side of the Start Menu, right above "Help and Support."
If it's not displayed there, click on Start, Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware, Printers and Faxes — and you'll be at the same place.
Once you've opened the Printers and Faxes window, you can left click on a printer and then click on "Share this printer" under the Printer Tasks menu. Or, you can right-click on a printer and select "Sharing..." from the context menu that pops up.
This will open the printer's Properties dialog box, already set to the Sharing tab.
You have two mutually exclusive options here. The default is "Do not share this printer." Just click in the other radio button, which is labelled "Share this printer."
Then change the "Share name" for the printer. By default, it is a label that was set by the manufacturer. But, you can choose your own label. This is the printer name that you'll see and use from other computers on your home network.

6. Using a Router with Cable or DSL

One of my subscribers wrote recently week to say:
You have convinced me as a user of a stand alone PC with DSL that I should add a router. But when I read the write up on the gadget I was shaken up to read about all the installation problems. If you had to call tech support for help how could a dummy like myself ever get it working correctly?? Isn't there a simpler router I could use??
If you're not going to use wireless (for which I recommend the Linksys WRT54G), you could get the Linksys BESFR-41, which is wired-only. That takes out any possible issues of wireless (although you can just turn wireless OFF in the wireless router).
If you've only got one wireless computer, the new WRT54G (v5) has a "quick security setup button" that's designed to make this painless process.
Strangely, version 5 of the WRT54G is a completely new model with the old name. The main processor is different from the previous generations of the WRT54G. Even more strangely, Linksys released their WRT54GL "Linux model," based on the previous model — despite the name, it is suitable for any brand computer.
Linksys also has a high-speed WRT54GS, which is their proprietary108 Mbps model, which requires their GS wireless cards in the computers. There's not a high-speed standard, yet (if ever), so don't expect inter-operability with other brands at 108 Mbps speed. "G" (802.11g) on the other hand, is a standard and the 55 Mbps speed should reliably work with other brands of equipment, too.
I don't recommend any other brands.
DSL is more of a challenge than Cable, because the ISP may use one of several protocols. Probably they use PPPOE, which you would have to log into the router and tell it to use PPPOE to talk to the ISP.
Linksys makes an EXCELLENT manual for the WRT54G. But, many people don't like to read instructions and then they like to complain and tell horror stories... (Source : www.terryscomputertips.com)