How to Remove Internet Explorer 6.0 or Outlook Express 6.0 Before You Reinstall Windows (Q312474)

Before you reinstall Microsoft Windows, you must first remove Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and Outlook Express 6.0.

However, if you cannot remove Internet Explorer 6.0 and Outlook Express 6.0 with the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel, you must rename the related migration dynamic link library (DLL) files and remove their associated registry keys before you reinstall Windows.

This article shows you how to remove Internet Explorer 6.0 and Outlook Express 6.0 by renaming the related migration dynamic link library (DLL) files and removing their associated registry keys.

Click here for the kb article.

Lock your desktop

Bored of pressing ALT+CTRL+DEL all the times to lock your desktop. Worry not, follow the instructions below and you will be able to DOUBLE CLICK (yes, you got that right) your way to lock your desktop.

1. Right click an empty spot on the desktop, point to New and click Shortcut.
2. In the "Create Shortcut" dialog box, type the following into the "Type the location of the item text box": "rundll32 user32.dll,LockWorkStation" (remove quotes while typing).
3. Click Next.
4. In "Type a name for this shortcut", type "Lock the Desktop" and Click Finish.

Now the desktop will lock when you click your new "Lock the Desktop" iconin the desktop.

Note:This is applicable only for Win 2000 and Win XP users.

Another simple way of locking your desktop is to press "Windows + L". Most newer keyboards have the "Windows" button (a button with the Windows logo).

How to disable Script Debugging in the XP Internet Explorer

Have you been harassed by that damn message from Internet Explorer asking you if you want to "debug" a script when you visit a particular Web page?

There seems to be a lot of Web pages that don't get along with Internet Explorer and so we're seeing a lot of those errors pop up. Let's get rid of that error.

In Internet Explorer, click Tools and then click Internet Options.
Click on the Advanced tab.
In the Advanced tab, place a checkmark in the Disable script debugging checkbox.
Click OK.
Close all Internet Explorer windows.

When you reopen Internet Explorer, you won't ever be asked to debug a script again.

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP (Q318378)

This article describes how to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer 6 and Outlook Express 6 in Windows XP. This may be necessary if you are having problems with Internet Explorer or Outlook Express because of damaged files or missing registration information.

IMPORTANT: After you use the procedures in this article, you must reinstall any updates to Windows XP again. To reinstall Windows XP updates, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site, windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

By default, Internet Explorer 6 is pre-installed in all versions of Windows XP and cannot be un-installed. To provide computer manufacturers greater flexibility in configuring desktop versions of Windows XP, Microsoft has made it possible for OEMs, administrators, and users to remove user access to Internet Explorer while leaving the Internet Explorer code intact and fully functional to ensure the functionality of programs and operating system functions that rely on it.

For example, Windows XP supports an "IEAccess=off" switch in the Unattend.txt file, and Internet Explorer has been added to the Add/Remove Windows Components section of the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. This does not reinstall Internet Explorer.

Click here for the kb article.

Increase your net browsing speed

Found this on dslreports forums:

This tip works on ALL Windows 95/98/ME and NT4/2000 systems with MS Internet Explorer 4/5/6 installed. This Registry tip speeds up internet/remote (using Windows Explorer and/or Internet Explorer) browsing process considerably on most MS Windows 32-bit machines connected to a network and/or remote computer(s).

This actually fixes a BUG in MS Windows OSes that scan shared (remote) folders/files across the network for Scheduled Tasks, and can add a delay as long as 30 seconds (!), because it uses extra time to search the remote computer(s).

To do this, open Regedit (Win95/98/ME) or Regedt32 (WinNT4/2000) and go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace
Highlight this value:
{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF} and delete it.
To delete => right-click on it -> select Delete -> click OK.

RECOMMENDED:
Export (BACKUP) this Registry key to a REG file FIRST, to be able to restore it (by running the REG file) if necessary.

In Regedit:
highlight the key name in the left hand pane -> click "Registry" from the menu -> select "Export Registry File..." -> type a file name in the "File name" field -> browse to the destination of your choice -> push the Save button.

This Registry change takes effect immediately. Just start MS IE while connected to the network/internet to see the difference.

NOTE:
Upgrading to a newer MS Internet Explorer release may add this key to your Registry during Setup, therefore you may need to delete it again after installing MS IE.

I tried it myself, and so far it seems a little faster, I will update if I notcie a considerable difference on another machine.

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Keys:
Windows Logo: Start menu
Windows Logo + R: Run dialog box
Windows Logo + M: Minimize all
SHIFT + Windows Logo+M: Undo minimize all
Windows Logo + F1: Help
Windows Logo + E: Windows Explorer
Windows Logo + F: Find files or folders
Windows Logo + D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
CTRL + Windows Logo + F: Find computer
CTRL + Windows Logo + TAB: Moves focus from Start, to the Quick Launchtoolbar, to the system tray (use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus toitems on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)
Windows Logo + TAB: Cycle through taskbar buttons
Windows Logo + Break: System Properties dialog box
Application key: Displays a shortcut menu for the selected item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType Software Installed: Windows Logo + L: Log off Windows
Windows Logo + P: Starts Print Manager
Windows Logo + C: Opens Control Panel
Windows Logo + V: Starts Clipboard
Windows Logo + K: Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box
Windows Logo + I: Opens Mouse Properties dialog box
Windows Logo + A: Starts Accessibility Options (if installed)
Windows Logo + SPACEBAR: Displays the list of Microsoft IntelliType shortcutkeys
Windows Logo + S: Toggles CAPS LOCK on and off

Useful Shortcuts for Windows - Part 2

Microsoft Office Shortcut Combinations :
CTRL + C: Copy
CTRL + X: Cut
CTRL + V: Paste
CTRL + Z: Undo
CTRL + B: Bold
CTRL + U: Underline
CTRL + I: Italic

Mouse Click/Keyboard Modifier Combinations for Shell Objects :
SHIFT + right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternativecommands
SHIFT + double click: Runs the alternate default command (the second item onthe menu)
ALT + double click: Displays properties
SHIFT + DELETE: Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin

General Keyboard-Only Commands : F1: Starts Windows Help
F10: Activates menu bar options
SHIFT + F10 : Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the sameas right-clicking an object
CTRL + ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)
CTRL + ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select thetaskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)
ALT + DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box
ALT + TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and thenpress the TAB key to view the task-switching window)
SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypassthe automatic-run feature
ALT + SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu,you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)
ALT +- (ALT + hyphen): Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI)childwindow's System menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you canrestore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)
CTRL + TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface(MDI) program
ALT + underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu
ALT + F4: Closes the current window
CTRL + F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
ALT + F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example,when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed
ALT + F6 : switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)

Shell Objects and General Folder/Windows Explorer Shortcuts For a selectedobject: F2: Rename object
F3: Find all files
CTRL + X: Cut
CTRL + C: Copy
CTRL + V: Paste
SHIFT + DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to theRecycle Bin
ALT + ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object
To Copy a File: Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file toanother folder.
To Create a Shortcut: Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a fileto the desktop or a folder.

General Folder/Shortcut Control:
F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries inthe box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)
F5: Refreshes the current window.
F6: Moves among panes in Windows Explorer
CTRL + G: Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)
CTRL + Z: Undo the last command
CTRL + A: Select all the items in the current window
BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder
SHIFT + click + Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus allparent folders

Windows Explorer Tree Control: Numeric Keypad *: Expands everything under the current selection
Numeric Keypad +: Expands the current selection
Numeric Keypad -: Collapses the current selection.
RIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwisegoes to the first child
LEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwisegoes to the parent

Properties Control: CTRL + TAB/CTRL + SHIFT + TAB: Move through the property tabs

Accessibility Shortcuts: Press SHIFT five times: Toggles StickyKeys on and off
Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Toggles FilterKeys on and off
Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Toggles ToggleKeys on and off
Left ALT + left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Toggles MouseKeys on and off
Left ALT + left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Toggles high contrast on and off

Dialog Box Keyboard Commands:
TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box
SHIFT + TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box
SPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If thecurrent control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with theoutline)
ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button
ALT + underlined letter in dialog box item: Move to the corresponding item

Useful Shortcuts for Windows

Windows Operating System
Windows Key+E => Opens Explorer Window
Windows Key+F => Opens Search Window
Windows Key+D => To show Desktop (minimizes all open windows. To undo, press Windows Key+D again)
Windows Key+L => Locks the computer (Works only on Windows XP Professional/2000)
Windows Key+M => Minimizes all open windows
Windows Key+CTRL+F => Opens the seach computer dialog box (to enable you search a computer on the network, if you are connected to a network)
Windows Key+Pause (Break) => Opens Systems Properties Dialog
F1 => Shows Help
CTRL+ESC => Shows Start Menu
ALT+TAB => Switch between open programs
ALT+F4 => Generally, closes the active program
Delete => Moves an item to Recycle Bin
Shift+Delete => Deletes permanently

Useful Shortcuts with the 'Start' button:
Start (windows logo Button) + M: Minimizes all open windows
Start + Shift + M: Maximizes All Windows
Start + E: Runs Windows Explorer
Start + R: Open the RUN Dialog Box
Start + F: Open the Search Results Dialog box
Start + CTRL + F: Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog Box (if thecomputer is connected to a network)
Start + Pause (Break): Opens the System Properties Dialog Box

Windows System Key Combinations:
F1: Help
CTRL + ESC: Open Start menu
ALT + TAB: Switch between open programs
ALT + F4: Quit program
SHIFT + DELETE: Delete item permanently

How To create more space for temporary Internet pages

On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, click Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Settings.
To create more space to store pages temporarily, move the slider to the right.