When I first saw the default search pane in Windows XP, my instinct was to return it to its classic look; that puppy had to go. Of course, I later discovered that a doggie door is built into the applet. Click "Change preferences" then "Without an animated screen character." If you'd rather give it a bare-bones "Windows 2000" look and feel, fire up your Registry editor and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ CabinetState.

You may need to create a new string value labeled "Use Search Asst" and set it to "no".

( WinXP PRO Only)

1) Click Start, Run and enter GPEDIT.MSC

2) Go to Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System.

3) Locate the entry for Turn autoplay off and modify it as you desire.

Windows XP takes the chore out of keeping your software updated with the newest and best code for device drivers, security, reliability, and performance.

Windows Update is the online extension of Windows. It’s a Web site where you find the most recent updates for your operating system, software programs, and hardware. Windows Update scans your computer and lists the code updates needed on your system. Then you can choose whether to download and install them.

To find available updates

1. Open Windows Update.
2. Click Scan for updates to find out about recent releases for your system.
3. Click Yes when prompted to install any required software or device drivers.

Notes:

• To open Windows Update, click Start, then click Help and Support. Under “Pick a task,” click Keep your computer up–to–date with Windows Update.
  
• The first time you go to the Windows Update Web site, click Yes when prompted to install any required software or controls.
  
• To use Windows Update, you need to establish a connection to the Internet.
  
• You might need to be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in order to perform some tasks.

You can turn off window animation ("exploding" windows), displayed when you play around with minimizing/maximizing open windows. This makes navigating Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP a lot quicker, especially if you don't have a fast video controller, or if you got tired of seeing it all the time (like I did). :)
To do this, run Regedit (or Regedt32) and go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER | Control Panel | Desktop | WindowMetrics
or if you are the only user of your Windows computer go to:

HKEY_USERS | .Default | Control Panel | Desktop | WindowMetrics

Right-click on an empty spot in the right hand pane. Select New -> String [REG_SZ] Value. Name it MinAnimate. Click OK. Double-click on "MinAnimate" and type 0 to turn OFF window animation or 1 to turn it ON. Click OK. Close the Registry Editor and restart Windows. Done.

TweakUI, the famous Microsoft Power Toy [110 KB, free, unsupported] can also turn off animated windows.
Just remove the check mark from the "Window Animation" box under the General tab.

Many of my friends ask me is there any Software which allows us to send SMS (Short Message Service) through my PC and the answer is YES.
A Definition from WikiPedia

Short Message Service (SMS) is a communications protocol allowing the interchange of short text messages between mobile telephone devices.

Now the definition will change , as now Sending SMS is possible through PC too.
There is one Australian company named Message Media which provides this facility.They provide many services like sending SMS through Software from your Home PC, Web SMS - which gives facility to send SMS to your relatives or customers through Internet browser NO need to install any type of software on your PC. They also provide Bulk SMS Facility for corporate world to promote there products or services.
The corporate SMS facility (Bulk SMS) is one of the best way to promote your services or products. and yes many international companies are using this.
Now the Definition will be

Short Message Service (SMS) is a communications protocol allowing the interchange of short text messages between mobile telephone devices and/or personal computers.

Any one should suggest this to Wikipedia !!

Have you ever noticed in Windows vista you can delete your favorite Recycle Bin ;)
yes seems crazy but Windows vista has a bug ,
Microsoft created Windows vista as most secure,powerfull Operating system software but still have few bugs like this, really strange. This may be possible that Microsoft has given Deletion of recycle bin as one of the feature !! we cant predicate there facts , God knows what Bill gates think.

So have you deleted your Recycle bin from your Desktop of your Vista ?
Here is the Simple Answer how to get it back,
1. Right click on desktop,
2. got to 'personalize', then in the left column click 'change desktop icons'.
3.Afterwards, click on the 'recycle bin empty' icon and change it with the icon
that shows the recycle bin full…and do the same for the 'recycle bin full'
icon.
4.Click apply. Now when the recycle bin is full it will show empty and
when empty it will show full.
5.Go back and change them to the normal icons as they should be and it will solve the problem.

i think this problem is not actual problem, i think its one of the feature provided by Microsoft to organize desktop icons.