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View Full Version : Secret Windows Software You Already Own


Conan
June 15th, 2002, 09:18 AM
From the show "The Screensavers"

IExpress
Have you ever wanted to make a customized self-extracting executable? You already have the tool. IExpress' wizard will step you through the process, and in a matter of minutes, you'll have something ready for download. To use IExpress, open the Run box and type, "iexpress.exe".

Microsoft Word Script Editor
You know how annoying it can be when, in the middle of typing a document, suddenly a paragraph's formatting changes. Argh! I didn't want to do that! How can I stop this from happening? Look no further than the built-in script editor. Open it by pressing Alt + Shift + F11 on your keyboard. Newer Word documents are done in XML, so you can easily edit the source to your heart's content.

Vintage Windows Media Player
If you're like me, you hate the new Windows Media Player. Sure, it's skinnable, but it also sucks up a lot of resources. Did you know the old one is still there? Yep, it's now called "mplayer2.exe". Just type the name in the Run box.

On-screen keyboard
Keyboard stuck? Don't wanna reboot? Use the on-screen keyboard. It's an accessibility tool, but it'll work just as well for anybody. To get to it, open the Windows folder, then open the System32 folder. The application is in this folder, and it's called, "osk.exe".

Winchat
Instant messaging is fun, but what if you don't want to install any of that kind of software on your machine? Launch Winchat, and then connect with another buddy on your network (your buddy also has to run Winchat). It's not incredibly useful, but still, it's there. To use Winchat, open the Run box and type, "winchat.exe".

Get more processing power
In the Run box, type, "Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks". This frees up any idle tasks running in the background so that XP devotes its full attention to what you want it to do.

uschie
June 15th, 2002, 14:10 PM
Conan:

I have problems with winmedia player and MS told me to test Mplayer 2 exe. ,but it's not there.Anyway just to let you know.
In fact a lot of stuff that should be in my P.C. is not even after a clean install.:eek:

Big Booger
June 15th, 2002, 14:20 PM
http://download.microsoft.com/download/winmediaplayer/Update/6.4/W9XNT4/EN-US/mpfull.exe

you can get the 6.4 version there, but to be honest I dont know if it will install on XP...
You can try though. It's strange the older version should be in the C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player folder.
Well I hope the file above helps.
BB

Reverend
June 15th, 2002, 14:28 PM
As Boogs said go to
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\
and double click on mplayer2.exe.

uschie
June 15th, 2002, 14:42 PM
It's not there and the dog did not find it either.Well it's not a big deal.It's just strange that a lot of other things are not to be found either.I guess that goes back to the mfg.

Big Booger
June 15th, 2002, 15:01 PM
Did you try to download and install it?
Just wondering.
BB

Conan
June 15th, 2002, 18:05 PM
Originally posted by uschie
Conan:

I have problems with winmedia player and MS told me to test Mplayer 2 exe. ,but it's not there.Anyway just to let you know.
In fact a lot of stuff that should be in my P.C. is not even after a clean install.:eek:

Are you using Windows XP Home? It seems that all of us on Professional have it.

piaqt
June 15th, 2002, 21:57 PM
Very cool deal. Thanks!:D

GimieGimieGimie
June 16th, 2002, 00:33 AM
Originally posted by piaqt
Very cool deal. Thanks!:D

I'm totally with ya on that one piaqt, thanks Conan!

As for uschie's problems with Windows Media Player, i believe that an incomplete installation of Windows XP has taken place here, the latest Windows Media Player is stated to be included in all versions of Windows XP.

I bet uschie upgraded his XP from another Windows operating system, and didn't choose a fresh install.

Blackwar
June 16th, 2002, 02:01 AM
Get more processing power
In the Run box, type, "Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks". This frees up any idle tasks running in the background so that XP devotes its full attention to what you want it to do.

I just tried that one, and it worked like a charm..
I ran that command right before i went to play sof2, and my frame rate increased ~ 6-9 :biglaugh:
Thanks Conan

uschie
June 17th, 2002, 03:59 AM
Thank's B.B.
I got it installed,it worked.
Winxp home came preinstalled with the P.C. ,but theyre are aps. missing,but sooner or later i'll get them together.
Sorry i'm late on the answer,but was very busy with the property.

Big Booger
June 17th, 2002, 09:33 AM
Glad to hear you got it installed!
It's strange it wasn't installed from the beginning.
BB

Tinker
June 17th, 2002, 11:05 AM
Good stuff Conan, Thanks.......

Since I am the typo king can anyone tell me how to delete miss typed lines in the "Run" drop down menu? Right click does not do it. Will I have to delete the whole list?

Conan
June 17th, 2002, 11:26 AM
Originally posted by Tinker
Good stuff Conan, Thanks.......

Since I am the typo king can anyone tell me how to delete miss typed lines in the "Run" drop down menu? Right click does not do it. Will I have to delete the whole list?

Highlight then press delete.

Tinker
June 17th, 2002, 11:39 AM
Drop down the menu and highlight the selection that I want to delete, this puts it in the window bar. Now I right click on it and a menu comes with delete on it so I click delete. This deletes it from the window bar but not the drop down list........

Conan
June 17th, 2002, 11:50 AM
Try deleting it thru the keyboard delete key.

kempouk
July 8th, 2002, 13:05 PM
i typed this {Get more processing power
In the Run box, type, "Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks". This frees up any idle tasks running in the background so that XP devotes its full attention to what you want it to do.} but nothing happend , doh:mad:

Big Booger
July 8th, 2002, 14:02 PM
Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks


only type that above. You wont see it do anything, but if your processor is being taxed by many processes, then you might hear it kind of bog down, or slow down a bit.. You can see it if you hit control alt delete.... then look at CPU processes, it will be 100% because it is focusing all of the CPU power on your current processes.

BB

SupaStar
July 14th, 2002, 14:35 PM
Originally posted by Conan
IExpress
Have you ever wanted to make a customized self-extracting executable? You already have the tool. IExpress' wizard will step you through the process, and in a matter of minutes, you'll have something ready for download. To use IExpress, open the Run box and type, "iexpress.exe".


Not bad...especially if you don't have WinRAR installed! :)

lynchknot
July 14th, 2002, 16:26 PM
I was wondering is this Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks is a one time deal. Or is it to be used whenever?

Conan
July 15th, 2002, 02:14 AM
Originally posted by lynchknot
I was wondering is this is a one time deal. Or is it to be used whenever?

To be used whenever, but I've never really seen the need to use it myself.