Links to Other Sites and Free Software
Links to some very informative sources on the web... and some really rotten sites, too.
Software
Need an MSOffice compatible word processor, spreadsheet, drawing, presentation, data editing (ADO, ODBC, etc) application with support for WYSIWYG HTML editing, plus a scripting language, all fully compatible with Windows XP? Want to pay absolutely nothing for it?
Sick and tired of the dysfunctional dog and its limited search capabilities in Windows XP? Get Agent Ransack by David Vest. From the Agent Ransack website: Agent Ransack is a free tool for finding files and information on your hard drive fast and efficiently. When searching the contents of files Agent Ransack displays the text found so you can quickly browse the results without having to separately open each file! Agent Ransack provides compelling advantages over similar search tools: Regular expressions that allow complex rule based searches. Immediate contents results view. Various wizards to walk the user through the searching process. Agent Ransack is provided FREE of charge for the benefit of the Windows community. If you find it useful please register it, free of charge.
Free software from Microsoft:
This PowerToy gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, control menu fading, mofify shortcut icon appearance, rebuild your icon database, clear document, find and IE followed links history, add custom places to the file open dialog, hide desktop icons, automatic logon to an account with a password, and much, much more.
With this PowerToy you can graph and evaluate functions as well as perform many different types of conversions.
With this PowerToy, in addition to seeing the icon of the application window you are switching to, you will also see a preview of the page. This helps particularly when multiple sessions of an application are open.
Manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar with this PowerToy.
Use this PowerToy to magnify part of the screen from the taskbar.
Tips
Eric Legge's site, link below, is an excellent resource if you are looking at buying a new PC. It covers warranty, support, included software, motherbaord, BIOS and more. It also has an excellent section on building a PC.
Visit these sites for general tips and information:
Doug Knox’s website (Includes tips and lots of fixes)
Windows XP A to Z (tips and tweaks)
Bootstrike has a large FAQ of common XP questions and is worth a visit if you can't find an answer.
XP Corner is a very well laid out site and well worth a call. "The XP Corner is a popular destination on the Internet with the best and most up to date Tips, Tricks & Tweaks, shareware, freeware and commercial demos for Microsoft Windows XP."
Nanotechnology has a number of pages for Windows and Office XP, plus hardware information.
Ramesh (MVP) Lots of tips and fixes. This site covers off many of the more obscure but often asked questions.
Basic Windows from Denny's Tutorial 'Viewlets'. Worth a look for those who prefer step by step tutorials.
Infinisource has a wealth of information but the layout makes it a little hard to find things, which is a bit of a shame really. The site is worth a look if you have the time to browse.
Tips, tricks, tweaks and downloads from webterrace.
Windows & PC Help is a very busy site with lots of small text but there is a plthora of information to be found here.
How Tos and Other
Interesting Stuff
Microsoft Technet has more How To articles than you can poke a stick at. This is a highly-recommended link
Since the Home Edition of XP does not implement many of the security features found in the Pro version, the article, A Novice's Guide to Securing Windows XP Home Edition (link points to a .pdf document), is an excellent resource for the typical home user who needs to establish some control over the operating environment. This is a highly-recommended link for XP Home Edition users. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 here.
Really Rotten
Websites
DO NOT take this link! You have been warned!
Gazwad’s XP Notes is totally awful, sort of looks like a child’s pre-school painting.
sqr’s Crazy Page is not recommended. There's nothing there to look at.
This garishly gussied up, tawdry monstrosity had the temerity to award THIS site "webshite of the year". Jealousy really is a curse. Back to Top
Revision Date: 1
Dec 2003