Do you know? There are lots of tools that makes your life easier by configuring them in your Windows XP? But some of the cool tools are hidden by Microsoft for some reason, dont ask me why.. Anyway here are a handful of them..

To run any of these apps go to ‘Start’ => ‘Run’ and type the executable name (ie charmap).

  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 upper-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).
  24. System configuration = msconfig.exe (can use to control starup programs)
  25. Group policy editor = gpedit.msc used to manage group policies, and permissions


Please note that adding or editing any settings in these tools may harm your computer. Please make sure you know what you are doing.. ;-)

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