Close Multiple Windows : Note works in all versions of Windows

If you just opened a number of separate, related windows (a folder inside a folder,
and so on), there's an easier way to close them all than one-at-a-time. Hold down
the Shift key as you click the X caption button in the upper-right corner of the last
window opened. Doing so closes that window and all windows that came before it.

Disable error reporting

• Open Control Panel
• Click on Performance and Maintenance.
• Click on System.
• Then click on the Advanced tab
• Click on the error-reporting button on the bottom of the windows.
• Select Disable error reporting.
• Click OK
• Click OK

WinXP Clear Page file on shutdown

Go to Control panel Administrative tools, local security policy. then go to local policies
---> security options. Then change the option for "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"

Win XP Won’t Completely Shutdown

• Go to Control Panel, then go to Power Options.
• Click on the APM Tab, then check the "Enable Advanced Power Management support."
• Shut down your PC. It should now successfully complete the Shut Down process.

Enable / Disable Firewall

Open Control Panel and double click on Network Connections. In the new box that
appears right click on the Connection and click on the Advanced tab. Check or
unchecked the box according to your desire.

Turn Off System Recovery

Right click on My Computer and choose Properties. Click on the System Restore tab
and check the box Turn off System Restore. (This will increase Windows performance
& save disk space)

Turn on your firewall

Microsoft included a firewall in Windows XP to keep you safe from hackers while you
cruise the Internet. How do you know that the Internet Connection Firewall is on? Go
to the Control Panel and double-click the Network Connections icon. In the dial-up,
DSL, or cable connection dialog that appears, check the Status column. If your
firewall is on, it should say Firewalled. You can turn the firewall off with the check
box, but unless you are going to add a third-party firewall for heightened security,
it's best to leave it on.
Now that you know that your firewall is on, how do you know that it's doing its job?
Test it with ShieldsUp, the free testing service sponsored by Gibson Research.
According to our tests, XP's Internet Connection Firewall kept the computer in full
stealth mode. Hackers could not break in and couldn't even see the computer online.
But, given the latest security problems with USB 2.0, etc, you should always go to
Windows Update to make sure you have the latest patches, no matter what
operating system you use.