This guide covers the secrets and undocumented features in Windows XP.
All of the following were tested in Windows XP only.
Notes - This is not a performance related guide, use the Optimize XP
Guide to improve system performance and the Diagnose XP Guide to
troubleshoot a system problem.
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Add/Remove
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Secret - Hidden Uninstall Options
Instructions - Warning: Proceed at your own risk! Browse to
C:\Windows\inf\ and make a backup copy of sysoc.inf. Then open the
original file C:\Windows\inf\sysoc.inf in notepad. Go to "Edit" and
select "Replace". In "Find what:" type ,hide and in "Replace with:"
type , then select "Replace All", save and close the file. Go to the
"Control Panel", "Add/Remove", select "Add/Remove Windows
Components". You will now see many more Windows components to
uninstall. Do not remove anything with no label or that you do not
recognize or fully understand what it does. Doing so can break
certain functionality in Windows.
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Control Panel
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Secret - Hidden Control Panel Extensions
Instructions - Download and install TweakUI, launch, go to "Control
Panel" and check any item not selected, then "Apply" and "OK". You
will now see the hidden control panel extensions.
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Device Manager
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Secret - Hidden Devices
Instructions - Go to the "Control Panel", "System" icon, "Hardware"
tab and select "Device Manager". Select "View" and Show hidden
devices.
Secret - Phantom Devices
Instructions - Go to "Start", "Programs", "Accessories" and select
"Command Prompt". At the command prompt, type "set
devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1" and press Enter. At the command
prompt, type "start devmgmt.msc" and press Enter. Select "View" and
Show hidden devices. You can see devices that are not connected to
the computer. - Source
Notes - When you close the command prompt window, Windows clears the
"devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1" variable that you set and
prevents phantom devices from being displayed when you select "Show
hidden devices". |
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