Windows tips

Frontpage bugs
#Restore the Find/Replace position window
regedit and delete 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\FrontPage\Explorer\FrontPage Explorer\Settings\FRDlgPos

Make Skype portable (and secure)
[skype.bat]
c:
cd "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone"
start skype.exe /datapath:"q:\skype" /removable
exit

Windows Mail
#Specify a different root folder, even a USB key
Open the registry at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail
Manually change the key:
Store Root

MS Excel
#Convert a column from text to number
#Create a new calculated column
=VALUE(TRIM(CLEAN(B1)))

Missing network icon on systray
On Windows Vista this worked for me:
run gpedit.msc and
User configuration -> Administrative templates -> Start menu and application bar
Change "Remove network icon" value a couple of time reconnecting the user each time

Windows Explorer view issues
Disable auto folder view settings http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/11/08/disable-automatic-folder-type-discovery-for-templates-in-vista/

Reset folder view settings:
Go to registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
delete key Bags
delete key BagMRU
reconnect user

#Cannot multi select any more
Delete Bags & BagMRU keys under
HKCU\Software\Classes\LocalSettings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\

How to create a service
instsrv yourServiceName "srvany.exe"
  #or
  #!!this seems not to work!!
  sc create myTempPorlamar10 binpath= "D:\Install\MS Dev Tools\create service\srvany.exe" type= share start= auto DisplayName= "Temperature of Porlamar"
Go to regedit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\yourServiceName
Create key "Parameters"
Create String "Application" containing path to your exe
Go to service control panel and allow desktop interaction if needed
If you need to create an exe from a batch use Bat_To_Exe_Converter.zip
That free tool allow creation of ghost applications

Delete a service using:
sc delete youServiceName

Windows System Error Codes from http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/debug/base/system_error_codes__0-499_.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc - Locally defined hosts (Windows)
    
set NLS_LANG=AMERICAN_AMERICA.AL32UTF8

call %ANT_HOME%\bin\ant start-server  -  Where ANT_HOME is an environment variable

echo %ORACLE_SID% - Where ORACLE_SID is an environment variable

Cleanup your system

--same as msconfig
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run - Programs started on startup (Windows)

C:\WINDOWS\Tasks - System jobs

--Delete all from here
C:\Documents and Settings\root\Impostazioni locali\Temp
C:\WINDOWS\Temp

Windows

Read user input

@echo off
set /p Input=
if /i "%Input%"=="y" (goto Proceed)
exit /b
:Proceed
echo Proceed