Cool Hidden features in Windows Xp

1. Application Secrets.

Defrag

Secret - Hidden Command Line Switch

Instructions - Go to "Start", "Run" & Type defrag c: -b to defragment the Boot & Application Prefetch information. Similar to what BootVis invokes.

Paint

Secret - Image Trails

Instructions - Open an image & hold down Shift then drag the image around to create an image trail.

Secret - 10 X zoom

Instructions - Open an image & select the magnifying glass icon. Left-click exactly on the line below the 8 X.

 

2. OS Secrets.

Add/Remove

Secret - Hidden Uninstall Options

Instructions - Warning: Proceed at your own risk.

Browse to “C:\Windows\inf\” & make a backup copy of sysoc.inf. Then open the original file “C:\Windows\inf\sysoc.inf” in notepad. Go to "Edit" & select "Replace". In "Find what" type, hide & in "Replace with:" type, then select "Replace All", save & close the file. Go to the control panel, "Add/Remove", select "Add/Remove Windows Components". You will now see many more Windows components to uninstall. Do not remove anything with no label or that you do not recognize or fully understand what it does. Doing so can break certain functionality in Windows.

Control Panel

Secret - Hidden Control Panel Extensions

Instructions - Download & install Tweak UI, launch, go to "Control Panel" & check any item not selected, then "Apply" & "OK". You will now see the hidden control panel extensions.

Device Manager

Secret - Hidden Devices

Instructions - Go to the control panel, "System" icon, "Hardware" tab & select "Device Manager". Select View & Show hidden devices.

Music

Secret - Music from the Installer

Instruction - Browse to C:\Windows\system32\oobe\images\title.wma & play

Shutdown

Secret - Display Hibernate Option on Shut Down dialog.

Instructions - Go to "Start", "Turn Off Computer" & press either Shift key to change "Stand By" button to "Hibernate".

 

3. Game Secrets

FreeCell

Secret - Instant Win

Instruction - Hold down Ctrl + Shift + F10 during game play. Then you will be asked if you want to Abort, Retry or Ignore. Choose Abort, then move any card to instantly win.

Secret - Hidden Game Modes

Instruction - In the "Game" menu choose "Select Game". Enter -1 or -2 to activate the hidden game modes.

Minesweeper

Secret - Reveal Mines

Instructions - Minimize or close all running applications. Launch Minesweeper, then type xyzzy. Next hold down either shift key for one second. Now when you move the mouse cursor over a Minesweeper square you will see a tiny pixel in the top left corner of your desktop screen. This pixel will change to black when your mouse moves over a mine. You may need to change you desktop background to a solid color other then white or black to see the pixel.

Pinball

Secret - Extra Balls

Instructions - Type lmax at the start of a new ball to get extra balls.

Secret - Gravity Well

Instructions - Type gmax at the start of a new game to activate Gravity Well.

Secret - Instant Promotion

Instructions - Type rmax at the start of a new game to go up in ranks.

Secret - Skill Shot

Instruction - Launch the ball partially up the chute past the third yellow light bar so it falls back down to get 75.000 points. There are six yellow light bars that are worth a varying amount of points :

First: 15.000

Second: 30.000

Third: 75.000

Fourth: 30.000

Fifth: 15.000

Sixth: 7.500

Secret - Test MOde

Instructions - Type hidden test at the start of a new ball to activate Test Mode. No notification will be given that this is activated but you can now left-click the mouse button an drag the ball around.

Secret - Unlimited Balls

Instructions - Type bmax at the start of a new ball. No notificatin will be given that this is activated but when a ball is lost a new ball will appear from the yellow wormhole indefinitely. Once this is activated you will be unable to activate other secrets without restarting the game.

Solitaire

Secret - Instant Win

Instruction - Press Alt + Shift + 2 during game play to instantly win.

Secret - Draw single cards in a Draw Three game

Instruction - Hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift while drawing a new card. Instead of drawing three cards you will only draw one.