How to make Windows XP look like previous version of Windows
Get the original Start menu back
Click Start, Control Panel, Taskbar. Choose Start menu. Click the Start menu tab, select Classic Start menu, click Apply, then click OK.
Get XP to look like previous versions
Start, Control Panel, Display, and under the theme select Windows classic.
Move the Taskbar sections
Right-click the Toolbar and uncheck the option to lock the taskbar.
How can I remove the option for a drop-down on a button on the Taskbar?
Click Start, Control Panel, Taskbar. Choose Start menu, then uncheck the option for "Group similar taskbar buttons".
How to prevent Microsoft Messenger from automatically running
How can I make My Computer the first icon on the desktop?
How to get the search to operate like previous versions of Microsoft Windows
This change requires the user to make modifications to their registry. Be aware of the potential complications if the registry is modified improperly by reviewing our registry page.
- Open the Windows registry.
- Open the below path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState\
- In the above location, create a new 'string' value called "Use Search Asst" (without the quotes).
- Modify the new 'string' value and set the value to "no" (again, without the quotes).
Disabling the Windows Welcome screen or password prompt
How do I disable the Windows XP balloon tips?
This change requires the user to make modifications to their registry. Be aware of the potential complications if the registry is modified improperly by reviewing our registry page.
- Open the Windows registry.
- Open the below path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\
- In the above location, create a new 'DWORD' value called "EnableBalloonTips" (without the quotes).
- Once created, double-click the EnableBalloonTips and make sure it is set to a hexadecimal value of 0.