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This might seem like a silly tip or even a silly function, but I’ve already found a use for it once and I’m sure that you’ll be able to use it at some point.  Windows XP comes with a built in on screen keyboard.  Basically a graphic of a keyboard comes up and acts like your keyboard, you can use your mouse to hunt and peck around.  What uses does this have and what did I use it for?  Well, it’s good for people with disabilities, where it would be easier to use a mouse than trying to type or it’s great to use when your keyboard goes loco on you.  Yes, we’ve all had our keyboard go nuts.  Here is how you launch it:

• Go to start
• Go to run and type OSK
• Then the keyboard comes on

It’s just that simple.  It’s best to make a desktop icon for it or a shortcut, because if your keyboard should go out on you, it would be handy to have it.  All you do to create the shortcut is to:

• Right click on the desktop
• Click the new shortcut button
• Type osk, click next twice, and there you have it.

For most people this function might be good, but personally, I leave my computer on all the time, it’s always downloading, or working at something, and it isn’t practical for my computer to take a little sleep.  So, here is how you shut off this little hibernation feature:

1. Go to your Control Panel
2. Go to Performance and Maintenance
3. Click on the Power Supply Option
4. Click on the tab that says, "Hibernate"
5. Unclick the box that says "Enable Hibernation"
6. Click Okay  

That’s all there is to it and now your computer won’t go into hibernation mode when you’re away from it.  No sleeping computer for you!

Article source: http://www.webterrace.com/tweak/hib.htm

Error reporting, what is it and why does Microsoft want you to have it on?  Basically whenever your computer crashes Win XP makes a little report of what went wrong and then sends it to Microsoft so they can improve the Windows Operating System.  Generally it sounds like a nice idea, but do you really want to be sending reports about your computer to Microsoft?  I personally don’t and they allow you to shut off this feature.  Here’s how you do it:

You can leave out step 7, but I like my operating system to tell me when its had a major error, mainly because I can look up the cause of the error and hopefully find a solution to it on the net or at Microsoft.  There you have it, error reporting to Microsoft is off and you don’t have to worry about sending a report to Bill Gates.

Article source: http://www.webterrace.com/

I bet you didn’t know that you could move your taskbar if you wanted.  Mostly I leave mine at the bottom, like the rest of the population, but occasionally I feel like going wild and have the taskbar at the top of my computer.  The Taskbar is that thin bar at the bottom where you can see all your open programs, the start menu, the clock, etc.  Now, in WinXP they made it very nice to move it.  This is how:

1. Right Click on the Taskbar

2. Click, Lock the Taskbar, until there is no check there

3. Left Click on the task bar and move it to where you want it…it will always rest up against an edge, so top, left or right.

4. Then click, Lock the Taskbar, again and it won’t move from that spot.

These are the same instructions for Windows 98, ME, 2k, only you don’t have to unlock the taskbar, you just left click on it and move…this was easier, but also you sometimes accidentally moved the task bar when you didn’t want it to move, ugh.  Well, there you have it, now put your taskbar to the top and see if you like it.

Article source: http://www.webterrace.com/tweak/