The Search companion in Windows XP searches for hidden and system files differently than in earlier versions of Windows. This guide describes how to search for hidden or system files in Windows XP.

Search for Hidden or System Files By default, the Search companion does not search for hidden or system files. Because of this, you may be unable to find files, even though they exist on the drive.

To search for hidden or system files in Windows XP:
Click Start, click Search, click All files and folders, and then click More advanced options.

Click to select the Search system folders and Search hidden files and folders check boxes.

NOTE: You do not need to configure your computer to show hidden files in the Folder Options dialog box in Windows Explorer to find files with either the hidden or system attributes, but you need to configure your computer not to hide protected operating system files to find files with both the hidden and system attributes. Search Companion shares the Hide protected operating system files option (which hides files with both the system and hidden attributes) with the Folder Options dialog box Windows Explorer.

Theoretically, you can get rid of it (as well as a few other things). Windows 2000 power users should already be familiar with this tweak.

Fire up the Windows Explorer and navigate your way to the %SYSTEMROOT% \ INF folder. What the heck is that thingy with the percentage signs? It's a variable. For most people, %SYSTEMROOT% is C:\Windows. For others, it may be E:\WinXP. Get it? Okay, on with the hack! In the INF folder, open sysoc.inf (but not before making a BACKUP copy first). Before your eyes glaze over, look for the line containing "msmsgs" in it. Near the end of that particular line, you'll notice that the word "hide" is not so hidden. Go ahead and delete "hide" (so that the flanking commas are left sitting next to one another). Save the file and close it. Now, open the Add and Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel. Click the Add / Remove Windows Components icon. You should see "Windows Messenger" in that list. Remove the checkmark from its box, and you should be set. NOTE: there are other hidden system components in that sysoc.inf file, too. Remove "hide" and the subsequent programs at your own risk.

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.

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.

1. If you’re annoyed by Internet Explorer’s incessant barking that you’ve lowered your security settings (like, if you’re a non-paranoid expert), launch “gpedit.msc” from either the Run command or Start Search field, navigate through Local Computer Policy / Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Internet Explorer. In the rightmost pane, double-click “Turn off the Security Settings Check feature” and set it to Enabled.
2. If Internet Explorer’s Information Bar also annoys you, you can turn it off (again) in the Group Policy Object Editor (gpedit.msc) through Local Computer Policy / Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Internet Explorer / Security Features. In the rightmost pane, double-click “Internet Explorer Processes” and set it to Disabled. Hallelujah!
3. I’ve just mentioned two tweaks that are buried inside the Group Policy Editor. Jim Allchin pointed out that there’s a Group Policy Settings Reference spreadsheet available. Makes for great weekend reading.
4. Read the Background on Backgrounds if you’re a performance junkie. Don’t set your wallpaper through Internet Explorer ever again! Now that Windows supports JPG wallpapers, there’s absolutely no need (or excuse) for using BMPs anymore.
5. If you insist on keeping UAC (User Account Control) turned on for yourself, you might care to make the elevation prompts a bit less visually jarring. Brandon told me about this one, even though I have UAC turned off. Launch the Local Security Policy manager (secpol.msc), and navigate through Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options. In the rightmost pane, scroll to the bottom and double-click “User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation.” Disable it, and you can keep UAC turned on without getting turned off by the embarrassingly craptacular Aero Basic theme.
6. Vista can send you emails! The Computer Management tool can still be accessed by right-clicking “Computer” and selecting “Manage” from the menu. However, now you can attach a task to any event. Try navigating through System Tools / Event Viewer / Windows Logs / Application. Now, go ahead and select an event - then look to the rightmost pane and click “Attach Task to This Event.” Name it whatever, describe it however, click through the next step, then in the Action step, you’ll see the “Send an e-mail” option.
7. The Windows Task Manager gives you a lot more troubleshooting information in Vista. Flip to the Processes tab, and in the View menu, click “Select Columns” and add Description, Command Line, and Image Path Name. Moreover, when you right-click a process, you can select either “Go to Service(s)” or “Open File Location.” These are all long overdue options.
8. This one’s interesting. Open up the Date and Time Control Panel applet. Flip to the “Additional Clocks” tab. There, you can configure two more clocks from different time zones. They’ll appear in the tooltip when you hover over the Taskbar clock. No additional software (or silly sidebar widgets) necessary.
9. Applicable in other versions of Windows, I’m going to throw it in here for good measure. Create a shortcut to RegSvr32.exe in your SendTo folder. To get there quickly, enter “shell:sendto” in the Run command dialog or Start Search field. Now, when you wanna register a DLL or OCX file with the system, you can select it/them and “Send To” the RegSvr32 shortcut.
10. I figured I’d round out my first set of Windows Vista tips and tricks with a tiny bit of eye candy. It doesn’t beat Picasa, but the Windows Photo Gallery is better than nothing. Once it’s indexed all your photos, click the icon next to the Search field and turn on the “Table of Contents.” That’s kinda nifty.

If this list doesn’t make Lifehacker, nothing will.

software, tips, tweaks, vista, vista ultimate, windows, windows vista

Do u have any ?
Then...

Windows Explorer helps you manage your stuff (documents, settings, programs etc) and this is why it's important to learn the basics and some of the Explorer tricks.

In the image bellow you can see the basic features that Windows Explorer was equipped with:

Navigation Pane: this pane contains two sections: Favorite links - that provides access to some of your favorite links like Documents and Pictures - and Folders, which displays the location you are currently browsing.

Details Pane: detailed information (Date Modified, Au this, Size) about a certain file of folder is displayed in the Details Pane. You can also add you own tags and you own categories, which can help you when searching for that specific file/folder.

Preview Pane is located on the right hand side and it allows you to view to content of a file without opening it

Command Bar gives you the option to Organize your files and folders, change the View and even Print or Burn a file/folder on a cD/DVD Address Bar displays the location you are currently in and you can also type a URL and have the explorer display a web page

Search Box allows you to search files and folders on you computer

The Navigation, Details and Preview panes are optional and can be turned ON/OFF by clicking on Organize – Layout

Until now, third party tools were needed for taking accurate screenshots but Vista comes with a build-in accessory called Snipping Tool. The tool lets you select a certain area on your screen and copies the image intro you system clipboard. You can either save the picture directly from the Snipping Tool making no modifications to it, or you can export it a photo editing software like Photoshop.

Using Vista's Snipping Tool

To launch the Snipping tool follow the instructions bellow:

• Open the Start Orb
• Type "snip" in the search box
• Select the Snipping Tool when this appears

When you start the tool for the first time, it will assume that you would want to capture a portion of the screen right away. You can cancel this auction by clicking the Cancel button.

Whenever you are ready to take a screen shot, click on the arrow besides New:

You now have 4 choices:

1. Free-form snip – allows you to capture an irregular shape

2. Rectangular snip – capture a rectangular area

3. Windows Snip – to capture a single window
4. Full-screen snip – to capture the entire screen

To actually take a screen shot, select one of the options above and drag the pen around the area you want to take a screen shot of. The image is now hidden in the Windows clipboard and you can import it in your favorite image editing software. Open the program, go to Edit and select Paste.

If you are talking a lot of screenshot on a regularly basis we recommend ,a more elegant and efficient tool.