Windows XP Profile Made Tolerable

For those "Old School" Microsoft Windows users, it takes a lot of changes to the defaults to make your Windows XP session more like what you may be used to from the past: Windows NT Workstation, Windows 2000, or Win95. Before installing and configuring Windows XP, you should consider these New OS Install Notes.

To get that old Windows look, feel, and general behavior back, in addition to unhiding some of the stuff Microsoft thinks you might hurt yourself with, just follow this guide.

On the initial login you will be presented with the Windows Security Center. The Windows Security Center was added to Windows XP in Service Pack 2. It has a front end for "Firewall, Automatic Updates, and Virus Protection." I typically disable Automatic Updates or set it to notify me but not install, and choose "Not Monitored" for virus protection. This is because I use my own choice of Virus Protection software and don't need Microsoft telling me when and how to install it.

The old school Windows user will want to see file extensions, have a classic start menu, direct access to My Computer, Network Neighborhood, have folders open in the same window, and several other tweeks to feel right at home. The following is a walk though guide from initial user login to completion of creating a windows classic experience.

1. Right-click the taskbar and choose properties, and
   1. In the "Taskbar" tab uncheck: "Group similar taskbar buttons", "Hide inactive icons"
   2. In the "Start Menu" tab select "Classic Start menu" and click OK
2. Right-click on the "My Computer" icon and choose "Properties" and click the "Advanced" tab
   1. In "Advanced" click the "Error Reporting" at the bottom right. Choose "Disable error reporting" and check "But notify me..."
3. Double-click on "My Computer" to open folders/drives view, click "Tools" on the drop down menu and choose "Folder options"
   1. General Tab: change "Use Windows Classic Folders" and keep the other two defaults "... same window", and "Double-click to open..."
   2. View Tab: check the following
      1. Display the contents of system folders
      2. Do not cache thumbnails
      3. Show hidden files and folders
      4. Launch folder windows is separate proc...
   3. View Tab: uncheck the following
      1. Display simple folder view in Explorer...
      2. Hide extensions for known file types (THIS IS THE MOST ANNOYING)
      3. Hide protected operating system fil... (optional depending on comfort level)
      4. Remember each folders view sett...
      5. Show popup description for fol...
   4. Now click "Apply" and "OK"- some of these changes increase speed, while others are for overall look and feel
4. Right-click on the desktop, choose "Properties"
   1. Themes Tab: Choose "Windows Classic" in the Themes drop down and click "Apply"
   2. Screen Saver Tab: Uncheck "On resume, display Welcome screen"

These are the main modifications to bring back the classic Windows NT look and feel. There are more subtle changes that can be made, and fine tuning.

Fine tuning, coming soon...