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One function that is under used in windows is the SUBST command.  It allows you to map a drive letter to a local folder.  This is useful when you are dealing with large directory paths or you want a quick and easy way to access a frequently used folder.

I will use a relativity short folder structure here but you will still be able to see the benefit of this command.

If we have a bunch of files located in the folder C:\- data\code\project\USB (graphic1) each time we want to use them we need to navigate through the folder structure to access them.  Surprisingly time consuming…

Would it not be easier just to go to a driver letter like T:\?

Sure it would, so let get it done!

1. Fire up the command prompt
   1. CLICK start > run
   2. Type CMD and click OK
   3. You should now be presented with the command prompt screen
2. Assign a drive letter to a folder (graphic2)
   1. Type subst t: “C:\- data\code\project\USB” (you can substitute t: for any free drive on your system)
   2. Type t: press enter or check it through windows explorer (graphic4)
3. Show subst options(graphic3)
   1. Type subst /?
4. To display a list of current virtual drives.
   1. Type subs

If you suffer from acute command line phobia you can check out the great utility visual-subst this will do everything you need from the comfort and security of your well loved GUI.

graphic1	graphic2
graphic3	graphic4

There are several ways to keep your information private in Windows XP, some better than others. Depending on your needs and situation the strongest protection is not always the best.

Here I will be looking at the following ways to keep your files secret from prying eyes!

• Making My Documents private
• Password protecting a zip folder
• Truecrypt

Making My Documents private

To use this method you need to be using NTFS and have a password on your account.

Windows XP pro

1. Right click My Documents > Properties > Sharing

2. Select ‘Make this folder private so that only I have access to it‘

3. Click apply

4. Click OK

Windows XP Home Edition

1. Boot into safe mode and logon to the ‘Administrator’ account
2. Right click My Documents > Sharing and Security
3. Click Make Folder Private

Password protecting a zip folder

1. Double click your zipped folder
2. Click File > Add a password
3. Enter your chosen password and confirm it and click OK

When using this method please remember that the file names within the Zip file can be viewed.

Truecrypt

Website: Truecrypt

Truecrypt is a excellent encryption utility that works on all the major platforms. Without going in to technical details, basically Truecrypt adds a drive to your computer that allows you to save your work securely.

This drive is really a file, so it is portable. All you need to do is launch it through the Truecrypt software and you can use your files securely on Windows/MAC and Linux.

If you ever find yourself in a situation were you have a retail cd key and a OEM version of XP, or any combination for that fact. There is a little trick you can perform thanks to the file setup.ini. It will allow you to install the version of windows you want that matches your key.

First, find your setupp.ini file in the i386 directory on your Windows XP CD. If you look at it, it will resemble:

ExtraData=707A667567736F696F697911AE7E05
Pid=55034000

The Pid value is what we’re in this for. What’s there now looks like a standard default, but that is no good. There are special numbers that determine if it’s a retail, OEM, or volume license edition. First, we must break down that number into two parts. The first five digits determines how the CD will behave, i.e. is it a retail CD that lets you clean install or upgrade, or an OEM CD that only lets you perform a clean install? The last three digits determine what CD key it will accept.

You are able to mix and match these values. For example you could make a Windows XP CD that acted like a retail CD, but then yet accepted OEM keys.

This is in my opinion a very useful tweak if done properly, so listen up!

Here are the individual values, the first and last values are interchangeable but you should keep them together:

Retail = 51882 335

Volume License = 51883 270

OEM = 82503 OEM

Now if you wanted a retail CD that accepted the retail CD key then you would use.

Pid=51882335

And if you wanted a retail CD that accepted OEM keys, you’d use:

Pid=51882OEM

You should remember that doing this might be considered illegal in Microsoft’s eyes so as such it’s not something I would recommend to do.

Now if all went without typo’s all you need to to is burn your XP cd and make it bootable.