Thread: Customizing Windows XP with Tweak UI In Windows XP

Customizing Windows XP with Tweak UI

Tweak UI, shown in Figure, is one of a set of PowerToys made by Microsoft to improve the practically of Windows XP. You can download any or all of the PowerToys, free of charge, from the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/ downloads/powertoys.asp.

Tweak UI gives all sorts of ways to tweak the Windows user interface. You can use Tweak UI, for example, to alter the style of shortcut icons, prevent particular applications from showing on the most commonly used programs section of the Start menu, add folders of your choice to the Places bar that shows along the left side of the common File, Open and File, Save dialog boxes—and many more.

A few gives practically that would or else be hard to find to users of Windows XP Home Edition. Many others are simple menu-pick avenues to customizations that would or else need you to edit the registry.

If you have used the version of Tweak UI that was exist at the time when Windows XP first shipped, be aware that Microsoft has withdrawn that version and altered it with another. If you plan to download the latest version, you must uninstall the old one first. You’ll find that, in the latest incarnation, each of the PowerToys can be downloaded and installed (as well as uninstalled) independently.

Figure. Tweak UI, a free but unsupported utility from Microsoft, gives you many additional ways to customize the appearance and behavior of Windows XP.

Because Microsoft does not officially support Tweak UI, you won’t be able to call Product Support Services if you run into difficulty with it or any of the other PowerToys. It’s not likely that you will need support, however. We consider the PowerToys safe, reliable, and extremely useful.