neophyte

Both methods require you to maintain them (particularly in cases such as the example GreenMachine pointed out), and both methods can be particularly messy. However, for ease of access, I'd have to say that registry tweaks are the way to go. Why? Because they don't require you to have to log into a Windows installation to edit them, practically any text editor can do it, thus, this makes them the hands down winner (in my belief). You could use ntuser.dat from the All Users profile, however, you'd have to make your modifications on a completely clean installation of Windows, without any other software to inject itself into the profile. It would still be a b**** to fix any mistakes up.

It will be out when it's ready.

Ah. They are too. Thanks GreenMachine

I wish Microsoft would hurry up and make this publicly available. I like to get my copies via the manufacturer.

dirtyepic: I think they're all getting their p*****s in a knot because they don't like having what they can do with their computer dictated to them by Microsoft (which is fair enough). Anyway, your thread is quite true and valid. I personally would have preferred MS to have set it to something a little more reasonable, such as 50 (*cough* the hack *cough*), but meh. Anyway, I won't be applying the patch, because I don't really care about it that much.

Look for a thread titled 'Registry Tweaks' - and set your search period to the last year or so.

You're looking for a post made by Gosh. I believe this is the one: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=16414&hl=oobe

You can disable the entire Security Center service (thus the alerts), with this registry tweak: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ;Windows security centre (service pack 2) ;default: automatic (home/pro) - dword:2 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc] "Start"=dword:4

Activation can be done unattended via the WINNT.SIF answer file, or via other various methods. However, in order for your 'method' to work, the hard drive volume serial number must be identical to the hard drive volume serial number from when the OS was first activated (it changes if you delete and re-create the partition tables on the hard disk).

For the flash 7 application, try this thread: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=12263&hl=flash

This is only usefull in the event an exploit uses a buffer overflow to gain access to the computer, or to willfully do damage. This won't stop other exploits which don't use buffer overflows. In this day and age, it doesn't really make a huge difference what instructions the CPU uses. I haven't really seen many programs that take advantage of the 3D-Now! instruction set, but I'm sure that they do still exist. This is true, however, the stock fan for the Athlon is not a particularly effecient fan.As a comparison, my P4 Northwood 3.0GHz CPU has a fairly effecient stock fan, which is somewhat just as quiet as the Athlon. That said, I've removed it and replaced it with an all copper unit, which has a 9.2cm fan running at 1500RPM. At this speed, the copper HSF unit keeps my processor at the same temps as the stock Intel HSF. There are better HSFs available for both platforms. This doesn't mean much when you're still waiting for software to be developed on a hardware platform that has had around a year or so on the market. 'Future proof' is not something that the computing world understands very well, because no computer is ever 'future proof'. You can only ever minimise the amount of times you 'have' to upgrade your computer. Somewhat true, as it all depends on the operating system implementation, and the software implementation, and how the software is compiled. But generally speaking, there should be "some" performance gain, even if it is relatively low. However, the performance gain may not justify the cost to change over to a new platform, if you've already got a fairly decent spec'd machine. Not entirely true, in some cases, the performance is on par with other 32bit AMD cpu's, and even 32bit P4's. When software is properly optimised, and updated to support 64bit's, this may change. Refer to my answer to point 6. Thats the advantage of having the memory controller on the CPU die. However, I can't comment a great deal on the bandwidth to other parts of the system as I don't have an AMD machine. I really believe that it is a matter of personal preference, and that currently, both sides of the camp have their own advantages and disadvantages. Given that Intel are already releasing 64bit chips (the Itanium was never a readily available consumer chip) in the form of the Xeon (and P4's coming soon), I would think that most arguments are going to be moot. Also given that Microsoft's Windows XP 64bit editions currently only support the AMD64 platform, the major advantage is definately with the AMD64 (Linux also supports the AMD64 platform). But, like I've said, it really is more a matter of personal opinion.

You could actually use that to set a permanent variable of %CDROM%

Glad to be of assitance. Thanks for the answers too, alanoll

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ;Media Player License Autoaccept [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer] "GroupPrivacyAcceptance"=dword:00000001 This will disable the first run screen completely, for every user. However, it stops quicklaunch and some start menu items from being propegated properly. GreenMachine: I may be ignorant, but could you explain these: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AIFFFile\shell\open] "LegacyDisable"=- (I think that disables WiMP from playing file types, is that correct?) and: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2C7339CF-2B09-4501-B3F3-F3508C9228ED}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 (What the hell is 'Stubs') Cheers.

First thing, integrated SP1 into the CD if you haven't already done so. Second thing, use RunOnceEx to do all the installations for you. See: http://unattended.msfn.org/xp/runonceex.htm You can further trim the time down by doing this: Install DirectX 9, Install Wimp9 - Reboot Install hotfixes - Reboot.

Don't forget, if you've got any code/reg tip/file that you want to share with us, and it has more than 40 lines in it, USE THE DAMNED ATTACHMENT OPTION, OR HOST IT ON A WEBSITE AND LINK US TO IT!. There is nothing more annoying than scrolling through a thread that has 500+ lines of code, only to find that there is a 1 line question at the end of it (with which the poster generally forgoes all grammatical and spelling rules). </outburst>

prathapml: Deleting BLISS.JP_ from the i386 directory, and saving BLUE.BMP as BLISS.JPG, and then makecab it, and place it in the i386 directory, would be even better!

This is not necessarily true. Depending on the motherboard maker, you can choose which drive is the first drive. This adjusts the mappings.

Oh, so gee, I guess I can save myself all the trouble and hassle of searching for a simple and automated way to install tweaks by manually setting them myself? Woah! What a time saver! </sarcasm> If you missed it, the whole point of this big thread, is to post tweaks that help automate the process of getting your OS installation back up and running the way you like it, in as quick amount of time as necessary.

Abit IC7/IC7-G. I have the IC7 (I don't need Gigabit lan, although I'm tempted to get the IC7-G), and have loved it. The only problem I've found, is that it doesn't like running when I set the Corsair RAM timings to this: CAS - 2.0 clocks; RAS to CAS - 2 clocks; RAS Precharge - 2 clocks; TRAS (Cycle time) - 6 clocks But works fine like this: CAS - 2.0 clocks; RAS to CAS - 3 clocks; RAS Precharge - 2 clocks; TRAS (Cycle time) - 6 clocks I know that my sticks run fine in the first configuration, as the original BIOS software allowed the sticks to do so. However, it appears that these Corsair 512MB Low Latency DDR400 sticks aren't 'up to scratch' to run at 2-2-2-6, at least thats what Abit said. Anyway, its a great board, it has the i875 chipset, meaning you have P4 motherboard that supports an 800MHz FSB (and HyperThreading), 2xSATA (onboard raid controller integrated into the Intel chipset), and onboard 5.1 digital sound (which is dodgy, but meh, saves a PCI slot). Its a great board, not had any issues with it (unlike the IC7-MAX, which has had a nasty rep for having the northbridge cooler fall off for no reason, and whilst in use).

Amen GreenMachine!

Nich and myself have already used registry snapshot tools, TweakUI doesn't record the password in the registry. In fact, the only change it appears to make is to Set AutoAdminLogon=1.

If your web browser has a find text feature, why not use it?

yronnen: This isn't a questions and answer thread, it is designed to be a place to post your favourite tweaks (if they haven't been posted previously). However, in answer to your question, you don't need to apply any tweak.

Yes they do. I suggest you look in the 'Registry Tweaks' thread stickied at the very top of this particular forum.