86. Clear the Page File (virtual memory) when shutting down XP

As mentioned above, the page file is an area of your hard disk that Windows uses as extra memory space to store files and data that are currently being used. Of course, since Hard drives are magnetic storage devices, and not dynamic like RAM, the data stored in the page file stays there until it is cleared or over-written.

This data may possibly contain unencrypted passwords or other sensitive information since many third party programs do not bother to encrypt data that is being passed to the memory, even though it may end up on the page file. A simple registry change can force Windows XP to clear the page file each time it shuts down. Note that enabling this will increase the time it takes your system to shutdown.

Open REGEDIT

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

Modify the ClearPageFileAtShutdown value to '1'

For customization

87. Get Rid of XP's annoying balloon tips

At some points, it seems like Windows XP is feeling lonely or something… every 5 minutes, some desktop-obscuring balloon tip will pop out of nowhere to inform you that you are not using the icons on your desktop, or that you have installed a new program, or that it's sunny outside… Seems like the operating system just needs someone to talk to. If, like me, you get fed up with this, here's a quick registry addition that will stop the madness:

Open REGEDIT.

Goto: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Add the DWORD value 'EnableBalloonTips' and give it a value of '0'

This will stop all balloon tips from popping up.

88. Adding additional Icons to 'my computer'

The 'my computer' window is one of the most commonly accessed areas in a typical Windows XP installation. Here's a way to add several more commonly used icons to the 'my computer' window to increase its usefulness.

Open REGEDIT

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\

Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace

Add a new key for each icon you wish to add to the 'my computer' window. The key should be named as below:

{D20EA4E1-3957-11D2-A40B-0C5020524153} : Administrative Tools

{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} : Printers and Faxes

{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF} : Scheduled Tasks

{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E} : Network Connections

{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} : Recycle Bin

{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D} : My Network Places