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10 Best Hidden Windows Features
Windows XP is an operating system par excellence. Easy to use it
comes with some amazing features.
1. The computer management screen allows control of the
operating system from a single interface.
2. The event viewer permits viewing of logs maintained by XP as
default. Program and system errors are maintained in the systems
logs for ready reference when recurring problems occur.
Important is to enable this auditing system which is inactive by
default.
3. The shared folders file lists all folders that can be shared
by remote users. The Sessions List displays all remote users
connected to the computer. And, the Open Files List indicates
all files being accessed by remote users. An invaluable system
this helps in security. The system is such that files in drive
C: are shared by default. To prevent this, a password must
protect all user accounts. One can however remove remote users
from the system.
4. An interface permits management of users, passwords, and
groups (XP professional). The 'groups' option allows restricting
as well as assigning rights as privileges to multiple users. The
default users group cannot use systems applications to install
software. Only the administrators group has unlimited access to
the system. The Microsoft web server software creates IUSR-xxx
accounts that permit access to web pages created by you to
remote users. To protect the files disable the guest account,
which is a security lapse. Further, password protect all
administrator and user accounts. Caution! XP home and
professional by default make users created during installation
process a part of the administrators group.
5. Win2K creates a database when one or more drives become
dynamic. The dynamic disk database contains detailed information
of the system. This permits resizing of space in a disk as the
dynamic volume need not be continuous. Dynamic volume can be
resized to include free space on other disks, termed
as
spanning. Dynamic disk groups can also be transferred between
supporting computers by physical removal and importing them into
the disk manager.
6. A system restore feature takes snapshots of the computers
configuration at set intervals. This is a working backup of
windows registry and contains all information needed to restore
the computer's functionality. The default reserve of a drive is
12% and restore points are stored in this space. If it runs out
of space, a system restore will begin overwriting restore points
automatically.
7. A local securities policy controls XP security options like
auditing. The local policies section has auditing options which
allows one to know who has accessed audited resources. Auditing
is disabled by default; enable only one or two options that are
necessary.
8. Accessibility options includes tools that make using Windows
easier for people with visual impairments or disabilities of
other kinds. One can change: text size, scroll bar size, icon
size, color scheme, use visual indicators instead of sound
effects. Of the many facilities such as use of single keys
instead of simultaneous use of two or more keys is an on screen
keyboard for those who are unable to use a physical key board.
9. A built in backup system enables data backup to a tape or
hard drive. Users of XP Home can add backup utility from a CD.
10. Files and settings transfer wizard allows transfer of
documents from other computers automatically. All it needs is a
net work connection.
Understand the operating system and you will discover many
delights.
About the author:
Paul Wilson is the content manager for
www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com
, the premier website to
find Free Software Downloads including free anti-virus software,
free spyware detection software, free toolbars, free chat
software and more. He also manages content for
http://www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com
.
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