Secrets Hidden in Windows XP

Easter Eggs (Definition) - A hidden message or feature in an application. This guide covers
unknown features in Windows XP.
Notes - This is not a performance related guide use the !ptimi"e XP #uide to improve s$stem
performance and the Diagnose XP #uide to trou%leshoot a s$stem pro%lem. Technicall$ Windows XP does
not include an$ easter eggs - &to supply certain government agencies with software, Microsoft can't
include undocumented features, including Easter eggs&. - Windows'TPro - (icrosoft
Windows XP is still supported by Microsoft through April 8, 2!"#
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Application Secrets
'efrag
Secret - Hidden (o))and *ine Switch
Instructions - #o to &)tart& &*un& and T$pe defrag c+ ,b to defragment the +oot and Application Prefetch
information.
Notes - Windows XP will run this automaticall$ ever$ three da$s or so during s$stem idle periods. +oot,is
will evoke this when $ou run the &!ptimi"e )$stem& function. There is no need to manuall$ run this
unless $ou wish to immediatel$ optimi"e a newl$ installed application-s load time.
-E.press
Secret - Hidden -nstall (reator
Instructions - #o to )tart *un t$pe ie.press - )ource
Notes - './press is a technolog$ designed to simplif$ creation of a setup program. 0sing the step-%$-step
'./press Wi"ard $ou can create self-e/tracting files that automaticall$ run the setup program contained
inside. The setup program can %e an .inf file or an e/ecuta%le program. './press technolog$ automaticall$
removes the setup files after installation saving the user time and frustration.
MS,'&S Editor
Secret - Hidden %e.t Editor
Instructions - #o to )tart *un t$pe edit - )ource
Notes - Windows XP comes with another te/t editor %esides 1otepad - it-s called the ()-D!) .ditor and
it-s commonl$ referred to simpl$ as .dit. 't has features similar to 1otepad as well as additional features
such as the a%ilit$ to work with multiple te/t files and change the %ackground and te/t colors.
/et)eeting
Secret - Hidden -nternet (onference Application
Instructions - #o to )tart *un t$pe conf - )ource
Notes - Windows XP is the last version of (icrosoft Windows to include 1et(eeting. 1et(eeting delivers a
complete 'nternet conferencing solution for all Windows users with multi-point data conferencing te/t
chat white%oard and file transfer as well as point-to-point audio and video.
/otepad
Secret - (reate a *og 0ile
Instructions - 2aunch 1otepad T$pe .2!# on the first line and then press .nter to move to the ne/t line.
!n the 3ile menu click )ave As t$pe a descriptive name for $our file in the 3ile name %o/ and then click
!4. When $ou ne/t open the file note that the date and time have %een appended to the end of the log
immediatel$ preceding the place where new te/t can %e added. 5ou can use this functionalit$ to
automaticall$ add the current date and time to each log entr$. -)ource
Paint
Secret - -)age %rails
Instructions - !pen an image and hold down Shift then drag the image around to create an image trail.
Secret - !. 1oo)
Instructions - !pen an image and select the magnif$ing glass icon. 2eft-6lick e/actl$ on the line %elow
the 7/.
Pri2ate (haracter Editor
Secret - Hidden 0ont Editor
Instructions - #o to )tart *un t$pe eudcedit - )ource
Notes - 5ou can use Private 6haracter .ditor to create uni8ue letters and logos for $our font li%rar$.
Windows (hat
Secret - Hidden Windows (hat Progra)
Instructions - #o to )tart *un t$pe winchat - )ource
Notes - 5ou can use Windows 6hat on $our computer to communicate with someone on another
computer. +oth computers must %e connected to the same network (for e/ample a local area network
92A1: or the 'nternet). Also each computer must %e running a similar protocol such as T6P;'P.
Windows Media Player 3#!
Secret - Hidden Windows Media Player
Instructions - #o to )tart *un t$pe )play42
Windows Media Player 5#"
Secret - Hidden Windows Media Player
Instructions - #o to )tart *un t$pe )player2 - )ource
Notes - Windows (edia Pla$er <.= (6lassic) is installed along with Windows (edia Pla$er >. The onl$
update is that it now supports the latest codecs.
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6a)e Secrets
0ree(ell
Secret - -nstant Win
Instructions - ?old down (trl 7 Shift 7 0! during game pla$. Then $ou will %e asked if $ou want to
A%ort *etr$ or 'gnore. 6hoose A%ort then move an$ card to instantl$ win.
Secret - Hidden 6a)e Modes
Instructions - 'n the &#ame& menu choose &)elect #ame&. .nter ,! or ,2 to activate the hidden game
modes.
Hearts
Secret - Show All (ards
Instructions - #o to )tart *un T$pe@ -*egedit- !4. .dit this registr$ ke$@
H8E9:(;<<E/%:;SE<=Software=Microsoft=Windows=(urrent>ersion=Applets=Hearts
*ight click on the ?earts folder select 1ew )tring ,alue and name it 1?. *ight-click on A+ select (odif$
and enter a ,alue Data of "2 !4 and close *egedit. )tart ?earts (not 'nternet ?earts). !nce in a game
Press (trl 7 Alt 7 Shift 7 0!2 to show all the cards.
Background - his secret is a reference to !ouglas "dams' #ook the $itchhiker's %uide to the %ala&y' '(B'
is the initials of the character (aphod Bee#le#ro&, the %alactic )resident' '*+' is the answer to he
,ltimate -uestion .f /ife, the ,niverse and Everything'
Minesweeper
Secret - <e2eal Mines
Instructions - (inimi"e or close all running applications. 2aunch (inesweeper then t$pe .y@@y. 1e/t hold
down either shift ke$ for one second. 1ow when $ou move the mouse cursor over a (inesweeper s8uare
$ou will see a tin$ white pi/el in the top left corner of $our desktop screen. This pi/el will change to %lack
when $our mouse moves over a mine. 5ou ma$ need to change $ou desktop %ackground to a solid color
other than white or %lack to see the pi/el.
Secret - Stop %i)er
Instructions - 2aunch (inesweeper and start a game so the timer starts counting then press
the Windows 8ey 7 ' to show the desktop. 1ow when $ou select minesweeper from the task%ar $ou
can continue pla$ing with the timer stopped.
Pinball
Secret - E.tra ?alls
Instructions - T$pe !)a. at the start of a new %all to get e/tra %alls.
Secret - 6ra2ity Well
Instructions - T$pe g)a. at the start of a new game to activate the #ravit$ Well.
Secret - -nstant Pro)otion
Instructions - T$pe r)a. at the start of a new game to go up in ranks.
Secret - SAill Shot
Instructions - 2aunch the %all partiall$ up the chute past the third $ellow light %ar so it falls %ack down to
get >BCCC points. There are si/ $ellow light %ars that are worth a var$ing amount of points@
3irst@ DBCCC points
)econd@ ECCCC points
Third@ >BCCC points
3ourth@ ECCCC points
3ifth@ DBCCC points
)i/th@ >BCC points
Secret - %est Mode
Instructions - T$pe hidden test at the start of a new %all to activate Test (ode. 1o notification will %e
given that this is activated %ut $ou can now left-click the mouse %utton and drag the %all around. While in
test mode press the following ke$s for more secrets@
H - #et a DCCCCCCCCC ?igh )core
M - )hows the amount of s$stem memor$
< - 'ncreases $our rank in game
9 - )hows the 3rames;sec rate
Secret - ;nli)ited ?alls
Instructions - T$pe b)a. at the start of a new %all. 1o notification will %e given that this is activated %ut
when a %all is lost a new %all will appear from the $ellow wormhole indefinitel$. !nce this is activated $ou
will %e una%le to activate other secrets without restarting the game.
Solitaire
Secret - -nstant Win
Instructions - Press Alt 7 Shift 7 2 during game pla$ to instantl$ win.
Secret - 'raw single cards in a 'raw %hree ga)e
Instructions - ?old down (%<* 7 A*% 7 SH-0% while drawing a new card. 'nstead of drawing three cards
$ou will onl$ draw one.
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&S Secrets
AddB<e)o2e
Secret - Hidden ;ninstall &ptions
Instructions - Warning+ Proceed at your own risAC +rowse to (+=Windows=inf= and make a %ackup
cop$ of sysoc#inf. Then open the original file(+=Windows=inf=sysoc#inf in notepad. #o to &.dit& and
select &*eplace&. 'n &3ind what@& t$pe ,hide and in &*eplace with@& t$pe , then select &*eplace All& save
and close the file. #o to the &6ontrol Panel& &Add;*emove& select &Add;*emove Windows 6omponents&.
5ou will now see man$ more Windows components to uninstall. Do not remove an$thing with no la%el or
that $ou do not recogni"e or full$ understand what it does. Doing so can %reak certain functionalit$ in
Windows.
(ontrol Panel
Secret - Hidden (ontrol Panel E.tensions
Instructions - Download and install Tweak0' launch go to &6ontrol Panel& and check an$ item not
selected then &Appl$& and &!4&. 5ou will now see the hidden control panel e/tensions.
'e2ice Manager
Secret - Hidden 'e2ices
Instructions - #o to the &6ontrol Panel& &)$stem& icon &?ardware& ta% and select &Device (anager&.
)elect &,iew& and Show hidden de2ices.
Secret - Phanto) 'e2ices
Instructions - #o to &)tart& &Programs& &Accessories& and select &6ommand Prompt&. At the command
prompt t$pe &set de2)gr:show:nonpresent:de2icesD!& and press .nter. At the command prompt
t$pe &start de2)g)t#)sc& and press .nter. )elect &,iew& and Show hidden de2ices. 5ou can see
devices that are not connected to the computer. - )ource
Notes - When $ou close the command prompt window Windows clears the
&devmgrFshowFnonpresentFdevicesGD& varia%le that $ou set and prevents phantom devices from %eing
displa$ed when $ou select &)how hidden devices&.
M-'- 0iles
Secret - Hidden M-'- 0iles
Instructions - +rowse to (+=Windows=Media and $ou will find E hidden ('D' files@
flourish#)id
onestop#)id
town#)id
Notes - &('D'& stands for &(usical 'nstrument Digital 'nterface& - A compression format for encoding
music.
Music
Secret - Music fro) the -nstaller
Instructions - +rowse to (+=Windows=syste)42=oobe=i)ages=title#w)a and pla$.
Notes - &!!+.& stands for &!ut-of-+o/ ./perience&.
Shutdown
Secret - 'isplay Hibernate &ption on the Shut 'own dialog
Instructions - #o to &)tart& &Turn !ff 6omputer...& and press either Shift ke$ to change the &)tand +$&
%utton to &?i%ernate&.
Support %ools
Secret - &2er ! Windows XP Support ;tilities are on the install ('
Instructions for )re-S)+ users - 'f $ou do not have )PH installed put the original Windows XP 6D in the
6D-*!( Drive run the '+=Support=%ools=setup#e.efile.
Instructions for S)+ users - 'f $ou have )PH installed Download the Windows XP )ervice Pack H )upport
Tools and install.
%he following are Myths, do not sub)it the)+
-6!1- 3older - -6!1- is a reserved file name so is A0X 6!(D 6!(H 6!(E 6!(= 2PTD 2PTH 2PTE
P*1 and 102.
1otepad Phrases - This is an encoding issue an$ com%ination of characters in the same order =-E-E-B will
cause the same pro%lem.
Telnet )tar Wars - 1o hidden version of )tar Wars e/ists in Windows. These can %e viewed online
at A)6''(AT'!1.co.n". To prove this does not e/ist disconnect $our internet connection from $our
computer and tr$ it again.
How to Clean up Your TEMP Folder at Startup (Cool Huh?)
You will be opening up Notepad and entering this inside
rd%temp%/s/q
md%temp%
Save Your file onto the Desktop as !leante"p#bat and after Pla!e it into the STARTUP folder#
Ea!h ti"e $ou reboot $our PC the Temps are gone leaving $ou with "ore roo" and faster startup too# %ow wasn&t
tha E' as Hell now? Sure(