Make that last command into a Linux script

You have been trying combinations to see which command line options best fit your needs, and you’ve finally found it. Now let’s make that into a script.

Impress your friends with your CLI magic in Linux

Here are two one-liners to have fun with. The first one takes a block of text you input it and displays it one character at a time, creating the impression that someone else is typing:

Extract a tarball online without local saving In Linux

This can be a real saver if you are using an EeePC with very low disk space. Say you want to download a large file but you don’t want to save it locally because you don’t have the necessary disk space.

Make that last command into a Linux script

You have been trying combinations to see which command line options best fit your needs, and you’ve finally

Re-Enabling System Restore

If you previously disabled system restore through the Group Policy Editor,
the option to start it again does not show in the System Properties.
You can re-enable it again by:

1. Run the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)

Decreasing Boot Time

Microsoft has made available a program to analyze and decrease the time it takes to boot to WindowsXP
The program is called BootVis

1. Uncompress the file.
2. Run BOOTVIS.EXE

Running NetMeeting

To run NetMeeting:

1. Do a Start / Run
2. Enter conf
3. Answer the prompts along the way for name, e-mail etc.

Allowing Network Access with Blank Passwords

Although you can log in locally without a password, by default, WindowsXP Pro does not allow network users to access the computer without a password. Typically you will receive an Unknown error 31 if this is the case.
To change this setting:

Changing Drive Letters

If you want to change the letters assigned to your fixed or removable drives:

1. Right Click on My Computer
2. Select Manage
3. Select Disk Management

Search Companion Error

When doing a file search, if you get the error A File That Is Required to Run Search Companion Cannot Be Found

1. Log on as an Administrator

Re-Installing User Login Pictures

Normally WindowsXP shows assigned pictures for each user on the system.
If you have deleted your user pictures, want to know the location, or need to reinstall them,
they are stored in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account

Speeding the Startup of Some CD Burner Programs

If you use program other than the native WindowsXP CD Burner software,
you might be able to increase the speed that it loads.

1. Go to Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services
2. Double-click on IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service

No GUI Boot

If you don't need to see the XP boot logo,

1. Run MSCONFIG
2. Click on the BOOT.INI tab
3. Check the box for /NOGUIBOOT

Adding SafeBoot to the Boot Menu

You can add Safeboot as an option to the normal XP boot screen

1. Open a command prompt
2. Copy the current c:\boot.ini to another name (just in case)
3. With your favorite text editor, edit c:\boot.ini
4. Copy then edit the current boot line to another line. For example:

Formatting a Partition Greater than 32 GIGs with FAT32

WindowsXP will only format a partition greater than 32 GIGs as NTFS.
If you want to format it with FAT32:

1. You can use a regular Win98 Boot disk and use that version of FDISK to create the partition

Setting the Dir Command to Display Filenames on the Left

Previous versions of Windows displayed the filenames on the left hand side when you run the dir command.
WindowsXP changes this and the default it to put it on the right.

To change this back:

1. Right click on My Computer

ReInstalling WindowsXP

If you need to reinstall WindowsXP and want to keep all your current installed applications and settings:

1. Start WindowsXP
2. Go to the location of your source files
3. Run WINNT32 /unattend

Controlling the Desktop Cleanup Wizard

By default, the Desktop Cleanup Wizard will pop up every 60 days to cleanup your desktop.
To stop this:

1. Right click on the desktop.
2. Select Properties
3. Click on the Desktop tab

Adding Environment Variables

Since any version of NT does not use an autoexec.bat file,
to add environment variables to WindowsXP:

1. Right click on My Computer
2. Select Properties
   

Disable Shared Documents

To disable the Shared Documents folder that shows up on the network

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \
   

Hiding the Last User Logged On

If you use the standard NT style of login and want to hide the last user:

1. Start the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
2. Go to Computer Configuration / Windows Settings

Stop Password Expiration

If you want to do this for all users, enter:
Start / Run / net accounts /maxpwage:unlimited
Added 3/18/02
If you are getting an error message that your password is about to expire:

Adding TCP/IP Printers

To create a connection to a printer connected to your network:

1. Start to add a new printer through the control panel.
2. Select Local Printer / Next

Bringing Up the Shutdown Dialog Box

1. Create a new txt file somewhere on your system, open it and put in this one line:
   (new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows();

Corrupted or Missing \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG

If you get the error:
Windows could not start because the following files is missing or corrupt
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM or \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE

1. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key

Repair Install

If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it to boot,
you can do a Repair Install that might work as well as keep the current settings.
Make sure you have your valid WindowsXP key.
The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer
If you are being prompted for the administrator's password, you need to choose the 2nd repair option, not the first.

Accessing Non-Listed Display Configurations

If you want to access display configurations not normally listed (e.g. 256 colors)

1. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
2. Click the Advanced button.
3. Click the Adapter tab,
4. Click the List all modes button.
5. Select the resolution, color depth, and refresh rate that you want and click OK.

Cleaning the Prefetch Directory

WindowsXP has a new feature called Prefetch. This keeps a shortcut to recently used programs.
However it can fill up with old and obsolete programs.
To clean this periodically go to:

1. Star / Run / Prefetch
2. Press Ctrl-A to highlight all the files
3. Delete them

Faster DOS Printing

If you are experiencing slow printing for DOS programs with Windows2000

1. Go Start | Run | Regedit
2. Click Hkey_Local_Machine
3. Click on System
4. Click CurrentControlSet
5. Click Control
6. Go to the bottom of this part of the list and click WOW
7. Click LPT timeout and change it to a 3

Stopping the Messenger Service

To remove the ability for anyone in the world to pop up messages on your computer,
you can disable the Messenger service.

1. Click Start->Settings ->Control Panel
2. Click Performance and Maintenance
3. Click Administrative Tools

Services You Can Disable In Windows Xp

There are quite a few services you can disable from starting automatically.
This would be to speed up your boot time and free resources.
They are only suggestions so I suggestion you read the description of each one when you run Services
and that you turn them off one at a time.