XdN Tweaker is a free tweaking program for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 7.

If you like to take more control of your computer and apply tweaks that enhance your user experience, then this tool is for you. Learn, in this guide, what XdN Tweaker does and how to get it.

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This guide is part of the Windows Desktop Theme Customization Series. If you want to learn how to install Themes in your version of Windows or want to locate some new themes, head here. If you’d like to keep up with this series and other articles from this site, subscribe here.

Here is a collection of themes compatible with Windows Vista. Learn how to install theme here. Many themes only work on a specific operating system, architeture, and service pack. i.e. Vista SP2 x86. Please read the instructions for each theme very carefully.

:: Lumen VS ::

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This guide is part of the Windows Desktop Theme Customization Series. If you want to learn how to install Themes in your version of Windows or want to locate some new themes, head here. If you’d like to keep up with this series and other articles from this site, subscribe here.

Note: Please create a create a restore point before patching system files. Many themes only work on a specific operating system, architeture, and service pack. i.e. Vista SP2 x86. Please read the instructions for each theme very carefully.

Installing desktop themes on your Vista or Windows Server 2008 machine takes just a few minutes . Learn, in this guide, how to patch system files and install themes.

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If you like to customize you Windows installation, you may have considered adding a theme. In this series, you’ll learn how to install a theme and then I’ll share the very best themes with you; this, if you already know how to install a theme, you’ll find greater benefit at the end of the week when I link to the themes. If you’re new to this, take your time, and be sure to seek help in the forums.

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Windows XP can use a Powertoy, which lets you resize images from the right click menu. This tool was not made available for Windows Vista. In search of a similar tool, I found the Image Resizer Powertoy Clone. Here’s how to do this in XP.

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In previous guides, I showed you how to encrypt your files in Windows (XP) (Vista/7) In this guide, I’ll show you how to decrypt these files. You may need to decrypt your files in the following circumstances:

• Moving files to a new computer
• Reformatting your current machine and using your encrypted files on the new installation of Windows

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The Windows Disk Cleanup Wizard will delete your temporary files, but only if they are over a week old. To create a simple batch script that will clean up your temporary directories, do the following (Vista instructions):

Creating the Batch File to Clean Temporary Files

1. Open Notepad and type the following:
   

   cd C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local
   rmdir /S /Q Temp

2. Save the file as cleantemp.bat
   
3. Now double click on the file to remove your temporary files and free up space on your computer

If this doesn’t work and gives an access error, try replacing %username% with you windows login username.

Automating the Process of Deleting Temporary Files

To automate this process, so you do not need to remember to run it, do the following:

1. Right click on the batch file and select create shortcut
2. Place the shortcut in your startup folder in the start menu

Now when you log in to Windows 7, your temporary files will be deleted.

Further Reading

• XdN Tweaker Customizes Windows XP, Server 2003, Vista, and 7
• How To Series: Windows Desktop Theme Customization
• Image Resizer Powertoy Clone Resizes Pictures in Vista
• About the Free Windows Books
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 17 [August 2009]

Every month we take a look around some of the most interesting windows-related web sites. We collect the best free stuff and write tips to help you get more out of Windows. Below you’ll find wallpapers, icon packs, fonts, screensavers, and freeware we’ve found over the last 31 days. We’ve also put together our most popular windows guides.

Enjoy the overview of stuff you shouldn’t have missed in August 2009

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Many people willing to pay for file encryption programs but did you know Windows XP, Vista, and Seven have built in file encryption capabilities? File encryption is more and more important as our data is the coming more mobile by the day. If you were to Lucia laptop, a password may protect your information but if the person who finds your laptop takes out your hard drive and put it into a now the computer all install is a different operating system on your hard drive, they may still have access to your files. In this guide, you will learn how to encrypt your files in Windows Vista. See this guide for XP.

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There are many ways to organize your files on your computer and provide shortcuts to them. In this guide, I hope to provide some inspiration; hopefully you can come up with some great ways to access the data on your drive.

I’ve written about how to organize your files in the past and in this guide I will focus mainly on how to get to those files easily without installing any extra software.

Creating Shortcuts to Your Data

I don’t store my personal documents in the conventional place Windows provides. This is because I frequently change operating systems and have different systems on one machine so I need a central repository of files. More information about this can be read here including instructions of how to implement this properly.

First Organize Your Files

I highly recommend organizing your files in an intuitive and efficient manner before working on how to get to them. Below is a screenshot of my E partition which is my media drive on my laptop:

As you can see, I organize my files by media type and I’ve also customized the folder icons.

Creative Shortcuts on Your Desktop

Recently, I’ve taken to using over-sized shortcuts on my desktop. I don’t usually have any icons on my desktop but I’ve found the shortcuts to be both aesthetically pleasing and useful.

(Click to enlarge)

To achieve this effect, do the following:

1. Right-click on the folder, you want to create a shortcut to, and click Create shortcut
2. Copy the shortcut to your desktop
3. Click on a blank space on the desktop, hold the CTRL key, and scroll your wheel mouse to change the size of the icon
4. To remove the shortcut overlay icon, follow this guide

You now have a desktop with oversized and stylish shortcuts.

Create Your Own Shortcut Tool Bar

If you have a setup similar to mine, mentioned above, you can easily make a shortcut to all the folders appear on your taskbar with the icons you previously selected. To achieve the effect shown above, do the following:

1. Right click a blank space on the start menu, select Toolbars > New Toolbar…

   

2. Select the parent folder with the links to your folders you want shortcuts to

   

3. The folder will now appear on your start menu

   

The previous steps may be enough to provide you with a useful shortcut system; to change the text label to icons, do the following:

1. Double-click on the folder name on the start menu to expand to the subfolders
2. Now right click the folder name and deselect Show Text and Show Title

   

3. Resize the toolbar as needed to achieve the following effect:

   

Further Customization

Do you have any other ways to customize your shortcut icons? Do you have a good Dock-style solution or method that does not require extra software? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Further Reading

• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 18 [September 2009]
• Best Windows Freebies and Guides 17 [August 2009]
• Restore Quick Launch Shortcut Icons in Windows Vista [How To]
• XdN Tweaker Customizes Windows XP, Server 2003, Vista, and 7
• Changes to mintywhite.com (and my other sites)