Annoyances of Windows 2000/XP

Tired of getting the message stating "There are unused icons on your desktop"? This is a behavior of the desktop cleanup wizard, another ignorant Microsoft annoyance that the bastards assume everyone wants enabled by default.

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Double-click on the Display icon.
3. Click on the Desktop tab.
4. Click on the Customize Desktop... button.
5. Remove the check from the Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days checkbox.
6. Click on the OK button and then click OK again.

Remove the appropriate key under the following branch of the Windows registry:

[-] My Computer
  [-] HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    [-] *
      [-] shellex
        [-] ContextMenuHandlers

For example, PowerArchiver is a real bastard about filling up the right-click shell menu with heaps of crap. Just delete the "PowerArchiver" key.

If you delete notepad.exe in win2k the os will restore it, even replacing a substitute you may have used. Navigate to the C:\WINNT\System32\dllcache folder and remove notepad.exe, replacing it with the substitute. The exe and dll files in the dllcache folder are were Microsloth is getting the backups from when it restores apps such as notepad. Remove also notepad.exe from c:\WINNT\System32 and c:\WINNT to replace with your substitute. Lastly, tell the Windows File Protection to get lost, it will detect that you have just replaced one of it's "vital system files". Do not insert the Windows CD or it will restore the plain old limited notepad.exe note: hide protected operating system files must be enabled to do this.

updated: Thu Nov 9 19:21:37 CST 2000

Add the Attribute Column to Windows 98 SE Explorer After installing Windows 98 SE (upgrade or full version) you will find that there is no Attribute column in Explorer. You can add this column to Explorer by launching RegEdit (click Start/Run, enter RegEdit in the ~SOpen:~T field, and click OK) and then selecting:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/Advanced.

Double-click on ShowAttribCol and change the ~SValue data:~T field from 0 to 1.

update: In Windows XP just right click on the File description labels above the file names and you can select what labels and file information to include, even the file attributes.

Thumbs.db is a system file generated automatically by Windows XP when you view the contents of a folder in “Thumbnail” or “Filmstrip” view. Thumbs.db contains a copy of each of the tiny preview images generated for image files in that folder so that they load up quickly the next time you browse that folder. Thumbs.db also stores your settings with regard to thumbnail and filmstrip view.

Despite the fact that Thumbs.db is a hidden system file, it annoys people because it tends to show up in places where it’s not wanted. Many times you’ll try to zip up a folder full of images and e-mail them to a friend or upload them to an FTP site, and Thumbs.db goes along for the ride.

To stop your computer from generating and regenerating future Thumbs.db files, do the following:

If you’re on the desktop…

• Click Start
• Double-click Control Panel
• Double-click Folder Options

Or, if you have My Computer open and are browsing any folder in your system…

• Click Tools (next to File, Edit, View at the top of the screen)
• Click Folder Options

After performing either of those two operations, the “Folder Options” window will open up.

• Click on the View tab
• Check off the circle next to Do not cache thumbnails
• Click the Ok button

Once you click the Ok button, your computer will cease to generate Thumbs.db files.

• This page has an unspecified potential security flaw.

Would you like to continue? YES NO

You see the following warning message if you open My Documents from a SHORTCUT: "This page has an unspecified potential security flaw. Would you like to continue?" When you open My Documents from the Start menu or by opening the My Documents folder directly from the desktop, it opens without this warning. This is caused by a new security update from Microsoft.

WORKAROUND: The network path for your My documents muyst be added to internet Explorer's Trusted Sites. this is easiest accomplished by calling Digital Foundation Desktop Support and referrring to this problem.

Here are the instructions to fix the problem. 1) In Internet Explorer go to Tools -> Internet Options 2) Open the Security tab 3) Click the Trusted Sites icon (IE6) or the Local Intranet icon (IE7) 4) Un-check (clear) the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone check box 5) In the Add this Web site to the zone box, enter your My Documents share path (If IE& be sure to include file:// in front of the share path)

Examples:

IE6: company.local IE7: file://company.local

The August 9, 2008 Windows XP update (KB921398 -- MS06-045) has a glitch which is causing the popup message. This update deals with "drag & drop" and FOLDERS too. The error pops up when attempting to move a folder on a network share.

(MS06-045) Microsoft Windows Explorer Folder GUID Code Execution Vulnerability (KB921398)

The Windows Explorer application is a graphical shell included with Windows that is used to access the file system and other features. Microsoft Windows Explorer contains a vulnerability that may allow for remote arbitrary code execution. The flaw is due to the manner in which Explorer processes drag and drop events. This could allow for malicious code to be saved locally on the victim and later executed.

WORKAROUND OPTION #2:

Try removing the security patch 921389.