Quick Format Vs Normal Format

You can format a partition or drive in two types:

1.  Quick Format

2.  Default or full format

When you first time format the partition, it is recommended to use default method (full format). This is slow and low-level formatting but this removes all data from the partition as well as the partition is scanned for bad sectors and fixed.

If you select the quick format method, you can save time but you can remove only data from the partition which does not scan the partition for bad sectors.

If you sure about your hard disk health then quick format should be enough.

Stopping Applications from Starting Automatically

If you are a Windows Xp or Windows 2000 user, you can now use the msconfig.exe that comes with Windows. It also lets you change the Services and BOOT.INI file as well.

Click on the Startup tab to remove apps that are starting automatically from the registry.

You can also search through the AUTOEXEC.BAT and WIN.INI files as well.

If you have applications that you want to stop from starting automatically, there are three places you need to look, the WIN.INI file, the Startup Folder and the Registry.

The load= or run= lines in the WIN.INI file.

Note: Do not remove programs from startup if you are not sure of it.

Disabling password prompt when resuming from standby

If you do not want to type in your password each time you resume your windows from standby or hibernation, you can disable the prompt for password screen.

To disable: Open Power in Control Panel and uncheck "Prompt for password after returning from standby" on the Advanced tab.

Hiding Recycle bin on the desktop

If you are a Windows XP user and don't want to see recycle bin any where on your desktop, there is an easy way to do so.

1. Go to Start --> Run and type Regedit and press Enter.

   Wait for the Registry Editor navigate to the below path.

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

  

2. Right-Click on {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} folder.

   Click delete. This will remove recycle bin from the desktop.

  

3. If you want to put it back, just follow the same procedure to navigate to the below path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

and then create {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} folder under NameSpace folder in the same registry path.

Note: You must have administrative rights to do this.

Change or Choose the default Sounds in Windows XP

If you are getting bored with default windows sounds and want to change it,it is possible to change logon, logoff or any window event sounds in windows XP.

There are two ways to change these sounds as explained below:

1) Go to Start --> Run and Media and press Enter.

   Now in the media folder you can see all the sound files.

   Replace these files with sound files of your choice and close it.

   Note: It is safe to back up all the sound files before you make 

   any changes through this method. 

2) Open Sound and Audio Devices in the Control Panel and in the sounds tab you can change the sounds that your windows makes.

There's a bluetooth software in Windows XP, Windows Vista & Windows7

For most of the people out there who find it difficult to find a Bluetooth software for their Bluetooth dongles need now worry if they didn't get one.

There is a hidden Bluetooth software in Windows.

Follow the below steps to find out how to transfer files over Bluetooth.

1. Click on --> Start --> Run.

2. Type "fsquirt" and press enter.

    This will open a welcome wizard for Bluetooth File Transfer.

3. Now follow the easy steps that the wizard asks you to do.