Tips and tweaks

BIOS

• Award BIOS settings

  Detailed description of most settings in the Award BIOS.

• BIOS Central

  Technical information about different BIOS brands along with PostCodes and BeepCodes.

• PC Guide - System BIOS

  Describes how the BIOS functions and the most common settings.

• Tech ARP

  Adrian’s Rojak Pot has the most extensive BIOS bible on the Internet.

DOS

• An Introduction to MSDOS

  Learning MSDOS with this very detailed introduction.

• Batfiles

  Started as place for DOS batch scripts, but have evolved into NT scripting.

• Bob Watson - MS DOS 7.0 Command Guide

  Describes all the available commands when using MS DOS 7.0

Windows

• AXCEL216

  Axcel216 (George Gombos) has many tips, through a little difficult to browse.

• Bob Cerelli

  Tips for Windows and Office, which are nicely categorized.

• HelpWithWindows.com

  Information, tips and troubleshooting information about Microsoft Windows.

• Microsoft Communities

  Searchable newsgroups about how to solve problems with Microsoft products.

• Microsoft Resource kit documentation

  Microsoft’s own listing of resource kit documentation for most of their products.

• Microsoft Technet

  The best placed to find solutions for your Windows blues.

• MyDesktopHelp.com

  Tips, Tweaks, Hacks and information about Windows and Office

• Sandi’s Stie

  Good information about Internet Explorer and Outlook Express

• TechSpot

  Former 3dSpotLight with easy to follow tweak guides with many pictures.

• Tweak3D.Net

  Different tweak articles for Windows for every occasion.

• Vista Forums - Tutorials

  Extensive guides of how to configure most things in Windows Vista (Would be nice if they had a RSS feed of the newest tutorials).

• WinGuides Network for Windows

  An ocean of information about how to configure Windows.

Windows NT4, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista

• 4sysops

  For Windows Administrators

• Aaron Tiensivu’s Blog

  West Michigan IT guy and Microsoft MVP!

• Ars Technica - Tweaking Windows 2000

  Dome of Tweaking.

• Ars Technica - Tweaking Windows NT4

  Dome of Tweaking.

• Ask the Performance Team

  Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support Windows Server Performance team

• Bink.nu

  Latest news and hacks for Windows.

• Brad Rutkowski’s Blog

  Windows Diagnostic and Debug team at Microsoft

• Hanno.dk

  Danish site, for danish readers. which is made by a MSCE fellar

• IntelliAdmin.com

  Windows IT: News, Tips and Software

• ITsVista.com

  Joseph Fieber is a system administrator who knows a great deal about computers and Windows Vista.

• JSI FAQ

  Very large collection of tips for Microsoft Windows.

• Kelly’s XP Korner

  A to Z guide for WinXP though it is a little difficult to overview.

• Krzywanek.de

  A german site with english tips for Windows NT+ and some office products.

• MAXIMUMpcguides.com

  Brent Trahan wants learn everyone how to use Windows

• Microsoft - How to use Windows XP

  Extensive list of the different functionality that Windows XP can provide.

• Microsoft - Security Guidance

  Security Hardening Guides from Microsoft.

• Microsoft - Windows 2000 Registry Reference

  Large set of available registry keys with explanation of purpose.

• Microsoft - Windows NT Registry Tweaks

  A little guide from Microsoft Technet mainly for Windows NT4.

• MSCEDirectory.com

  MSCE Training site for with links to free practise tests.

• NSA - Security Configuration Guides

  Security Recommendation Guides from the National Security Agency.

• NT FAQ

  Has the solution to many problems and also has a nice newsletter.

• Optimize Guides

  Easy guides about how to optimize Windows XP/2000. Also include a little treat called ‘XP Myths’.

• Petri.col.il

  Daniel Petri tries to undermine the bad reputation of MSCE’s.

• Sanx.org

  Has a blend of simple tips along with some more technical tweaks for Windows.

• Svein.dk

  A danish site, for danish readers. which is made by a MSCE fellar.

• Tip Quarry

  A large collections of registry tips mostly for Win2k/WinXP.

• Tlab404

  Provides tips and tweaks for Windows 2000 and XP.

• TweakXP.com

  Tips only for WinXP.

• WindowsNetworking.com

  Lots of articles about Windows and setting up a network.

• Winhelponline.com

  Ramesh Srinivasan (MVP) provides lots of tips and troubleshooting for Windows XP and Vista.

• Xperience Xp

  Soumitra Sengupta (MVP) with advice of how to get Windows XP to purr like a cat.

• XPTuneUp

  Tips only for WinXP only.

Windows 95, 98, Me

• Microsoft - Windows 98 First Steps of Optimization

  Chapter 2 from Optimizing Windows, published by O’Reilly & Associates, Inc.

• Microsoft - Windows 98 Performance Tuning

  Detailed advice of how to optimize Windows 98.

• TweakHomePC

  Speedup Tweaks for the PC and Windows 9x/Me.

Network, Dialup, Cable, Modem

• 56K.COM

  56K Modem Init Strings, Drivers and Firmware.

• DSL Reports

  Perform speedtests and get tweaks to improve network performance.

• ModemHelp.org

  Provides Modem Init Strings for a large collection of dial up modems.

• Modems, Modems, Modems.

  Technical modem information.

• Modemsite.com

  56k Modem Drivers, Information, and Troubleshooting.

• Navas Cable Guide

  Deals with modem/cable tweaking and security in windows.

• SpeedGuide.net

  Deals with modem/cable tweaking in windows.

Security

• F-Secure - Radar Alerts

  Lists the most recent virus discoveries.

• Georgi Guninski

  Security consultant who is interested in software Security with details of how to exploit weak points.

• GreyMagic Security

  Has focus on web browsers like IE, Mozilla and Opera and their security holes.

• Internet Storm Center

  Makes forecasts about the upcoming security attacks and how they spread.

• McAfee - Discovered Viruses

  Recently Discovered Viruses, Trojans, and Worms

• Messagelabs - Treat Watch

  Up-to-date on trends and traffic in viruses, spam and phishing.

• NewOrder

  Provides security related articles about exploits and the workings of operating systems.

• Packet Storm

  Dedicated to security both in the windows and the unix world.

• Symantec - Threat Explorer

  Up-to-date information on the latest threats, risks and vulnerabilities.

• Trend Micro - Virus Updates

  Lists the most recent virus discoveries and their risk rating.

Security Check

• BrowserSpy

  Shows you how much your Internet Browser is telling to the Internet.

• Hacker Watch

  Can probe your firewall to see if it is working.

• Qualys: BrowserCheck

  Tests if your Internet Explorer is open for attacks.

• Scanit: BrowserCheck

  Tests if your Internet Explorer/Mozilla is open for attacks.

• Shields Up

  Test your firewall and its ability to shield against attacks.