26. Rollback Device Drivers in Case of Error

Windows XP provides the ability to 'roll back' or replace current device (hardware) drivers with the most recent previous version. This function can be accessed in safe mode and can save you a lot of headaches when you run into issues with new drivers.

To roll back a device driver to a previous version right click on 'my computer' and select 'manage.' Open 'device manager' and highlight and double click the device whose drivers you wish to roll back. Go to the 'driver' tab and select 'roll back driver.' Your system will revert to the most recent saved driver after a restart.

27. Avoid Having to Re-Activate Windows XP After Reinstallation

Normally, when you reinstall Windows XP you need to also reactivate the operating system by phone or Internet in order to use it. This can be avoided by simply copying a single file from your old installation to your new one.

The 'wpa.dbl' file, located in the 'c:\windows\system32\' folder, indicated to the operating system whether the current hardware configuration has been activated or not. As long as you have not changed any of the hardware in your PC during the reinstall, you can simply copy the file onto a floppy, CD or USB key and copy it back into Windows after the reinstall to avoid the re-activation procedure.

28. View PowerPoint Documents Without PowerPoint

If you use certain versions of Microsoft Office, you might be frustrated by the lack of the PowerPoint application for creating and viewing presentations. This can be especially frustrating if you need to view someone else's essential PowerPoint slides. Fortunately, Microsoft offers a free PowerPoint viewer which you can use to open (but not edit) power point presentations in Windows XP.

You can get it here. Microsoft also offers equivalent viewers for Word and Excel files if you are in a pinch.

29. Control Clear Type Text With Free Tool

Microsoft's Clear type technology incorporates font smoothing to make ordinary text clearer on certain kinds of screen, most notably LCD monitors and displays. Clear type is built into XP, but enabling and configuring it involves several steps. Microsoft recently made a tool available which consolidates all the clear type configuration menus into one neat application. Get it here to find out if clear type is for you.

30. Mouse Problem? Use MouseKeys

If your mouse is absent or malfunctioning in some way, attempting to troubleshoot the problem can become extremely frustrating. Granted, there are keyboard shortcuts for just about everything in Windows XP, but without intimate familiarity with these commands, you still can't get around as fast as with the mouse.

Fortunately, Windows XP includes the 'mousekeys' application in with its suite of accessibility applications. This small program enables the number pad keys to control the mouse pointer, making your life much, much easier.

To activate MouseKeys, hit CTRL + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK