MAKE WINDOWS XP BEHAVE
• Make disk images, restore points, and backups of files and registry keys to repair your system if you fuck things up.
 
REMOVE XP COMPONENTS
 
  • M$ Java  
 
If you install Java from Sun you don't need the buggy M$ Java anymore.


To uninstall M$ Java:

1) Run:

  RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection java.inf,UnInstall

2) Restart your computer

3) Delete this folder (if present):

  \windows\java

4) Delete these files (if present):

  \windows\inf\java.pnf
  \windows\system32\jview.exe
  \windows\system32\wjview.exe

5) Open regedit and delete:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Java VM and HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AdvancedOptions\JAVA_VM


Get the non-M$ version of Java from www.java.com
  		 

  • M$ XP screensavers  
 
To delete those those ugly XP screensavers:

1) Delete the backup copies from the hidden folder windows\system32\dllcache
2) Delete the unwanted screensavers from windows\system32
  		 

  • NetMeeting  
 
Launch the run box from the start menu and run:

    %SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection NetMtg.Remove 132 msnetmtg.inf

More info: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q267958
  		 

  • .NET framework  
 
.NET removal tool: blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/04/08/406671.aspx
  		 

  • Outlook Express  
 
To get rid of Outlook Express 5.x and 6.0, and possibly other versions:

1) Backup the following registry entries and remove them:

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\WAB
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{7790769C-0471-11D2-AF11-00C04FA35D02}
    HKCU\Identities
    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\WAB

2) Rename the following folders (add _old to their names):

    \Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery
    \Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Identities
    \Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities
    \Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
    \Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Address Book

3) Search for the following files and rename them (add _old to their names; ignore all file protection warnings):

    Msoeacct.dll
    Msoert2.dll
    Msoe.dll
    Msoeres.dll
    Msimn.exe
    Oeimport.dll
    Oemiglib.dll
    Oemig50.exe
    Setup50.exe
    Wab.exe
    Wabfind.dll
    Wabimp.dll
    Wabmig.exe
    Wab32.dll
    Wab32res.dll
    Inetcomm.dll
    Csapi3t1.dll
    Directdb.dll

4) Restart your computer

5) Check if apps that can work together with Outlook Express, like Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, MS Office, still work OK

6) If everything works OK, you can delete the registry key backups and renamed files and folders.
  		 

  • "Uninstallable" XP components  
 
Open sysoc.inf (generally found in the \WINDOWS\INF folder) in Notepad.


Programs that are uninstallable have the word hide or HIDE in the string. Delete the word hide from the entry:

  Pinball=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,pinball.inf,HIDE,7
to
  Pinball=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,pinball.inf,,7

Save the edited sysoc.inf file, then run Add or Remove Programs and click Add/Remove Windows Components.


AccessOpt=Accessibility Wizard
MultiM=Multimedia components, including Media Player, Volume Control, and Sound Recorder
CommApps=Communications components, including Chat, Hyperterminal, and Phone Dialer
AutoUpdate=Windows Automatic Updates (is required for manual updates!)
TerminalServer=Terminal Server
Dtc=Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Com=COM+
WBEM=Windows Management Instrumentation
msmsgs=Windows Messenger


Programs like Terminal Server show up in the wizard but it won't let you uninstall them.

On some systems you can't remove Windows Messenger, but you can remove it from the command line or run box with this command:

  rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection BLC.Remove 128 %SystemRoot%\INF\msmsgs.inf
  		 

  • User Accounts  
 
To delete auto-generated accounts that you never use, run one (or both) of these commands:

net user HelpAssistant /delete

and

net user NetworkService /delete

If an account is broken, recreate it with these commands:

net user HelpAssistant /add

and

net user NetworkService /add

If you get an error message complaining about lack of password, run:

net user accountname password /add
(replace username and password with the desired name and password).
  		 

  • Webfolders  
 
1) Launch a run box or command prompt and run:
    msiexec /x C:\Windows\System32\webfldrs.msi
2) Delete windows\system32\webfldrs.msi
3) Delete program files\common files\microsft shared\web folders
  		 

  • Windows Firewall  
 
1) Launch the run box from the start menu and run:
    services.msc
2) Stop the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service
3) Set the startup mode of the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service to disabled
4) Ignore the warnings and error messages
5) Launch a command prompt (not a run box) and run:
    sc delete Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
  		 

  • Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications tool and nag screen  
 
WGA Notifications (Windows Update 905474 and later versions) phones home and screams "thief!"
- if you don't have write access to a file called data.dat: www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=187200186
- if you incorrectly edited your registry to enable DMA: winhlp.com/WxDMA.htm
- if you slipstreamed service packs/hotfixes/drivers into an old copy of XP
- if you have a pirated copy
- if you upgraded XP Home to Pro
- if the date on your system is wrong: www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1151178878
- because of any of the problems listed on forums.microsoft.com/genuine/showforum.aspx?forumid=442&siteid=25
- because of any M$ error waiting to be identified

If you fail the WGA validation test, XP haunts you with annoying logon messages, desktop warnings, and system tray balloons.
According to support.microsoft.com/kb/905474 you can only temporarily disable the nag screens.

WGA Notifications has many bad habits:
- may be installed without your knowledge: blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?page_id=3170&page=1
- phones home: microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,2180,1974864,00.asp
- phones home even if you quit the installer: heise-security.co.uk/news/86294
- is genuinely annoying: blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/001961.html & www.scotsnewsletter.com/83.htm#wgaoff
- attracts malware that tries to steal your credit card number: news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Confirms-the-Windows-Activation-Trojan-Horse-54566.shtml
- doesn't come with an uninstaller.

To remove WGA Notifications:
1) Open Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data\Data.dat with notepad and delete all the contents.
2) Set the empty file as "read only."
3) boot into safe mode.
4) Delete wgalogon.dll, spmgs.dll, and wgatray.exe from your system32 folder.
5) Delete Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\6c4788c9549d437e76e1773a7639582a (the number may be different on your system).
6) Reboot.
7) (Optional: search your registry for wgatray and wgalogon and delete those registry items.)

Automatic WGA Notifications uninstallers:
www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/RemoveWGA.shtml
www.firewallleaktester.com/removewga.htm

Remove pilot versions of WGA Notifications:
support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;921914

More methods to remove WGA Notifications:
labnol.blogspot.com/2006/04/workarounds-to-disable-non-genuine.html
mydigitallife.info/2006/04/26/disable-and-remove-windows-genuine-advantage-notifications-nag-screen
www.makeuseof.com/tag/remove-windows-genuine-advantage-pc/
  		 

  • Windows Messenger  
 
Launch a run box or command prompt and run:

    rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection BLC.Remove 128 %SystemRoot%\INF\msmsgs.inf
  		 

  • Windows system folders and files  
 
No matter how big your hard drive is, a small windows partition makes backing up to CD or USB stick faster and easier.

Things you can delete from your windows folder to free up hundreds of megabytes:


WINDOWS\inf: all PNF files (will be regenerated when needed), all mdm*.* files (modem drivers) if your modem comes with its own driver

WINDOWS\Help: all gid files (except when you want to save customized views of help files), and all help files for programs you're not interested in

WINDOWS\Downloaded Installations: backups of some downloaded installers (TweakUI etc.)

WINDOWS\RegisteredPackages: backup copies of installation files for programs like Media Player

WINDOWS\repair: a useless backup copy of your registry from back when you installed windows (unless you use NTBackup)

WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2 (not \catroot !): delete (big) logfiles; if you delete the .cat files some programs may run their install routine.

WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups: old drivers, delete subfolders if you don't plan to roll back your drivers (don't delete the ReinstallBackup folder itself)

Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery: delete what you won't use


You can remove a lot more. Details on www.graphixanstuff.com/Forum/index.php?showforum=68 and www.roger.id.au/index.php?section=1&pageid=43
  		 
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