Some simple tips and tricks

1. IP address of your connection:

• Go to start--run type 'cmd'

• then type 'ipconfig'

• 'ipconfig/all' switch for more info.

2. How to make your Desktop Icons Transparent

• Go to Control Panel > System, > Advanced > Performance area > Settings button Visual Effects tab "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the Desktop"

3. For a Safer, faster XP Close Unwanted Services

To disable unneeded startup services for a safer, faster XP, use the "Services" Admin Tool (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services).

If you are a single user of a non-networked machine, you can disable the following items, with no ill effect.

• Alerter
• Clipbook
• Computer Browser
• Human Interface Access Devices
• Indexing Service (Slows the hard drive down)
• Messenger
• Net Logon (unnecessary unless networked on a Domain)
• Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
• Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
• Remote Procedure Call Locator
• Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
• SSDP Discovery Service (this is for the utterly pointless "Universal P'n'P", & leaves TCP Port 5000 wide open)
• Universal Plug and Play Device Host
• Upload Manager
• Workstation

4. How To Enable Hibernation

Under Windows 98, Me, or 2000 there was an option in the shutdown dialog box to enter the computer into hibernation (where all the content of the RAM is copied to the hard disk). The shutdown dialog box of Windows XP doesn't offer any longer the hibernation button. Some users may get confused about how to enable the hibernation mode. If this mode is supported by your motherboard (ACPI) you have to do the following:

1. Click Start and Shut Down.

2. Point the standby button and maintain the shift key pushed.

3. A new hibernation button appears: click it while still holding the shift key: voila your PC will hibernate.