Windows XP Power Tips

1
Windows XP Power Tips

• Roger Clauer
• UWM School of Business Administration
• October 18, 2003
• rclauer_at_uwm.edu
• www.sba.uwm.edu/gdrive/clauer_r/alumni.ppt

2
XP Home vs. Professional

• Features not in Home
• Domain membership
• Dynamic Disks
• Group Policy
• IntelliMirror
• Offline Folders
• Remote Desktop

3
The Luna GUI

• New Task Oriented Interface
• Highly Customizable
• New Themes
• Group Similar Icons on Taskbar
• Windows 2000 Compatible look and feel

4
Security

• Ability to rename Administrator Account
  (recommended)
• Follow Principle of least privilege
• Dont run with Administrator rights
• Use Run As Feature (Shift, Right Click)

5
Home Firewall
6
Internet Connection Firewall

• Builtin Packet Filtering Firewall
• Provides inbound protection only
• Configuration right click My Network Places,
  Properties, Right click on Local Area Network,
  Properties, Advanced
• Advanced options allow great deal of flexibility

7
Fast User Switching

• Enables to quickly switch between users
• Logoff, Switch User
• Task Manager
• Fast User Switching takes memory
• Optionally, you can Disable Fast User Switching
• Control Panel, User Accounts

8
Microsoft Powertoys

• Alt-Tab Switcher
• Cmd From Here
• TweakUI
• Various Others

9
CDRW and Zip File Support

• Native Zip File Support
• Native CDRW Support
• Easy to use Drag and Drop interface
• Uses temporary files on Disk to stage the CD.
  Must have sufficient free disk space
• Can be used in conjunction with commercial
  products (Nero, Roxio, etc.)

10
File and Settings Transfer Wizard

• Purpose Migrate Data, Favorites, Desktop
  settings, from old computer to new computer
• What does it convert ?
• My Documents, Favorites, etc.
• http//support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scidkb
  en-usQ304903

11
File and Settings Transfer Wizard (contd)

• Use
• Start from XP Installation CD
• Create a Wizard Floppy
• Issues
• Requires Large Storage media or network
  connectivity
• Works best if old machine was well organized
• Does not convert applications or passwords

12
Remote Desktop

• WXP Professional Only
• Must be enabled
• Must be in Remote Desktop Users
  Group/Administrator
• Client is interchangeable with Terminal Services
• Disk, Sound, Printer Redirection
• Client runs on many Windows Platforms

13
Remote Assistant

• Allows Application Sharing
• Designed as a Help Desk feature
• Requires Messenger or Mapi compliant email such
  as Outlook
• Remote Assistant is enabled by Default (Right
  Click on My Computer, Properties, Remote)
• Firewalls may present unique challenges

14
System Restore

• Originally debuted in Windows ME
• Creates Checkpoints which can be used to
  restore your system to a previous state without
  affecting your application data
• Checkpoints are created automatically or manually
• Start, Programs, Acessories, System Tools, System
  Restore

15
Resources

• Power Tools
• http//www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/p
  owertoys.asp
• Remote Desktop Client
• http//www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/r
  dclientdl.asp

16
Resources

• ZipCentral
• http//zipcentral.iscool.net/
• Freeware
• www.webattack.com
• Program whose settings are transferred by File
  and Transfer Wizard
• http//support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scidkb
  en-usQ304903

17
Resources Tip Sites

• www.winxpnews.com
• Is-it-true.org
• www.winguides.com
• www.labmice.net
• www.jsiinc.com
• www.windows2000faq.com