Windows XP - 23 Hidden Apps

[DDLForce]

Windows XP - 23 Hidden Apps

To run any of these apps go to Start > Run and type the executable name :

1) Character Map = charmap.exe (very useful for finding unusual characters)

2) Disk Cleanup = cleanmgr.exe

3) Clipboard Viewer = clipbrd.exe (views contents of Windows clipboard)

4) Dr Watson = drwtsn32.exe (Troubleshooting tool)

5) DirectX diagnosis = dxdiag.exe (Diagnose & test DirectX, video & sound cards)

6) Private character editor = eudcedit.exe (allows creation or modification of characters)

7) IExpress Wizard = iexpress.exe (Create self-extracting / self-installing package)

8 Microsoft Synchronization Manager = mobsync.exe (appears to allow synchronization of files on the network for when working offline. Apparently undocumented).

9) Windows Media Player 5.1 = mplay32.exe (Retro version of Media Player, very basic).

10) ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbcad32.exe (something to do with databases)

11) Object Packager = packager.exe (to do with packaging objects for insertion in files, appears to have comprehensive help files).

12) System Monitor = perfmon.exe (very useful, highly configurable tool, tells you everything you ever wanted to know about any aspect of PC performance, for uber-geeks only )

13) Program Manager = progman.exe (Legacy Windows 3.x desktop shell).

14) Remote Access phone book = rasphone.exe (documentation is virtually non-existant).

15) Registry Editor = regedt32.exe [also regedit.exe] (for hacking the Windows Registry).

16) Network shared folder wizard = shrpubw.exe (creates shared folders on network).

17) File siganture verification tool = sigverif.exe

18 Volume Contro = sndvol32.exe (I've included this for those people that lose it from the System Notification area).

19) System Configuration Editor = sysedit.exe (modify System.ini & Win.ini just like in Win98! ).

20) Syskey = syskey.exe (Secures XP Account database - use with care, it's virtually undocumented but it appears to encrypt all passwords, I'm not sure of the full implications).

21) Microsoft Telnet Client = telnet.exe

22) Driver Verifier Manager = verifier.exe (seems to be a utility for monitoring the actions of drivers, might be useful for people having driver problems. Undocumented).

23) Windows for Workgroups Chat = winchat.exe (appears to be an old NT utility to allow chat sessions over a LAN, help files available).

[DDLForce]

Some EasterEggs:

Right click on the desktop.
Select Properties, then goto ScreenSaver tab.
Goto 3D TEXT and click on Settings.
Type volcano and preview it.
You got the names of 10 volcanos.

Useful control panel applets from the Run dialog:

access.cpl - Accessibility Options
appwiz.cpl - Add/Remove Programs
desk.cpl - Display Properties
inetcpl.cpl - Internet Properties
intl.cpl - Regional Properties
main.cpl - Mouse Properties
powercfg.cpl - Power Options
*There's more, but I don't use them often and can't recall. Ask if you need one.



Easy access to Add/Remove Programs:

Click on Set Program Access and Defaults from the start menu. It uses the same container as Add/Remove Programs; you can just click the button for it at the left side.



Windows Key Shortcuts:

WIN+E - Explorer
WIN+F - Search Dialog
WIN+D - Show Desktop
WIN+R - Run Dialog
WIN+L - Switch User
WIN+Pause - System Properties



There's more of those 'hidden' Run dialog shortcuts. The ones I use are:

calc - Calculator
excel - Microsoft Excel
iexplore - Internet Explorer
notepad - Notepad
msimn - Outlook Express
msnmsgr - MSN Messenger
mspaint - Paint
sndvol32 - Expanded Volume Control
sol - Solitaire
winword - Microsoft Word

System Configuration Utility(very important)=msconfig

[DDLForce]

network connection status monitor = netstat.exe

it shows the connections made to your computer.
run it and you may be surprised how many of the tasks in your PC are actually listening thru TCP ports etc.

commandline: netstat -a


dxdiag is useful, it will tell you all kinds of info you need to know about dx and your vid card

[msg43]

Thanks for the list
some of those files aren't hidden like charcter map

[parkers]

wo cool volcano thing, howd u find that?

[Fightthefuturefourms]

Perhaps you should also list:

Ipconfig.exe

Useful for resetting your IP and masking it.

[xboy3000]

all is useful

[sebastianzuur]

nslookup is also usefull.

[slugs.bizhat.com]

To abort the forced shutdown of Windows (like with the blaster worm) there's always: shutdown - a

Also good if u're killing processes in task manager and kill something important like RPC and Windows tries to force a restart.

[snetonline]

hey,
alot of flexibility is provided in the general policy editor.
gpedit.msc
specially setting the reserved bandwidth for QoS to 0 may boost internet speeds.