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This guide is mostly intended for a novice user with an older or
entry level computer, it works on faster computers also.
update:
I did not agree with this statement when I wrote this guide, however the web is a lot more dangerous now
A couple of years ago I beta tested Windows 2003 Server, to my surprise
when it installed, everything was just like I do when I set my Windows xp up.
Now why is that? Someone that's paying $700 for an OS wants it ready to
use, not crippled like the Xp default install.
First let's start with the task bar, right click(properties), there's a whole hidden world in the right mouse click. Let's uncheck hide inactive icons.
From here on in learn to hit the highlighted Apply button.
Next the start menu tab at the top, tick Classic Start menu . Apply and OK out.
Now we are ready to do some serious work, see that My Computer icon, right click, properties again. Advanced tab, Performance-
Settings, tick adjust for best performace and tick smooth edges of screen fonts
There's a lot more that we can do here, but it's slightly dangerous, we
will wait and return. A&0(Apply and OK)
At this point you could repeat the steps and make sure everything's changed.
Now open My Computer, right click C drive, properties, uncheck allow indexing
service to....... and when it tell you a file is access denied, click ignore all. Next disk cleanup, learn to read sizes(15,000KB), see something big besides compress old files, check it and OK out.
Tools tab, just for the heck of it let's run an error check. Check automatically fix file system errors. Before we defrag, got any temporary large video files,
finish with them and delete. Make sure you have emptied the trash bin
and norton's protected also. Now defrag.
Hopefully defrag won't take so long after this.
Now let's open up C drive thru my computer.
Using view I set to icons, then under tools/folder options,
I check Use Windows classic folders, next in the View tab,
I uncheck Hide extensions(this is very important), then I uncheck hide protected system
files, now check Display contents of system folders, display full path in .., show hidden files,
and show control panel in my computer. Hit apply then go to top and hit apply to all folders.
As long as you leave the "Leave the remember each folder's view setting" checked, you can customize individual folders like my pictures later.
OK out now.
Now see all those new files on the root directory of the C drive,
Don't ever touch them, they enable windows to boot!
Use the back button and see that Control Panel in my computer,
go there, let's go to Add or Remove Programs, see a bunch of stuff you tried and never use anymore, lets get rid of them. If you don't know what something is, leave it alone(try and find out what it is tho).
While we are here, let's go to Add/Remove Windows Components.
Here's where the hidden fax feature is for Pro version, see something you never use like MSN Explorer or Windows Messenger, remove them? Leave Paint under accessories.
I don't like windows media player so I remove it, but you'll need a replacement.
entry level computer, it works on faster computers also.
update:
Every computer needs Security software installed (Antivirus+Firewall) and should start up with Windows/run in the background.
A couple of years ago I beta tested Windows 2003 Server, to my surprise
when it installed, everything was just like I do when I set my Windows xp up.
Now why is that? Someone that's paying $700 for an OS wants it ready to
use, not crippled like the Xp default install.
First let's start with the task bar, right click(properties), there's a whole hidden world in the right mouse click. Let's uncheck hide inactive icons.
From here on in learn to hit the highlighted Apply button.
Next the start menu tab at the top, tick Classic Start menu . Apply and OK out.
Now we are ready to do some serious work, see that My Computer icon, right click, properties again. Advanced tab, Performance-
Settings, tick adjust for best performace and tick smooth edges of screen fonts
There's a lot more that we can do here, but it's slightly dangerous, we
will wait and return. A&0(Apply and OK)
At this point you could repeat the steps and make sure everything's changed.
Now open My Computer, right click C drive, properties, uncheck allow indexing
service to....... and when it tell you a file is access denied, click ignore all. Next disk cleanup, learn to read sizes(15,000KB), see something big besides compress old files, check it and OK out.
Tools tab, just for the heck of it let's run an error check. Check automatically fix file system errors. Before we defrag, got any temporary large video files,
finish with them and delete. Make sure you have emptied the trash bin
and norton's protected also. Now defrag.
Hopefully defrag won't take so long after this.
Now let's open up C drive thru my computer.
Using view I set to icons, then under tools/folder options,
I check Use Windows classic folders, next in the View tab,
I uncheck Hide extensions(this is very important), then I uncheck hide protected system
files, now check Display contents of system folders, display full path in .., show hidden files,
and show control panel in my computer. Hit apply then go to top and hit apply to all folders.
As long as you leave the "Leave the remember each folder's view setting" checked, you can customize individual folders like my pictures later.
OK out now.
Now see all those new files on the root directory of the C drive,
Don't ever touch them, they enable windows to boot!
Use the back button and see that Control Panel in my computer,
go there, let's go to Add or Remove Programs, see a bunch of stuff you tried and never use anymore, lets get rid of them. If you don't know what something is, leave it alone(try and find out what it is tho).
While we are here, let's go to Add/Remove Windows Components.
Here's where the hidden fax feature is for Pro version, see something you never use like MSN Explorer or Windows Messenger, remove them? Leave Paint under accessories.
I don't like windows media player so I remove it, but you'll need a replacement.
Turn down the suck...Turn up the 
I guess what I want to know is will it make it work faster? I do a a pretty darn good system but anything I can do to make it better.
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