HelioBar

Another little tweaking tool which takes advantage of Alpha Transparency in Windows XP and 2000, is HelioBar. Using this software, you can adjust the transparency level of your taskbar meaning that a full screen background image is made completely visible. You have the option of running the program automatically at start up, or just when you require it. When you stop using the software, you may find that the text on your taskbar appears slightly blurred, but this can easily be rectified by either resizing your taskbar or moving it to one side of the screen and then back to its original position.

System requirements: Windows NT and XP only

Installation

Install HelioBar

Remapper

If you have been using your keyboard for any length of time, there will undoubtedly have been occasions when you have wished that you could move a few keys around. The accidentally pressed Caps Lock key has been at the source of many an office swearing session, and Remapper aims to put a stop to it. You need to ensure that you are logged into your computer as an administrator before running the program. Now simply select the keyboard remap option you would like to implement and click Enable. After a quick reboot, your keyboard will have a new layout.

Installation

Install Remapper

CoolDesk

CoolDesk is a virtual desktop manager which allows you to have up to nine different desktops open simultaneously. This is ideal is you often find yourself working with a large number of windows and are now keen on Windows XP's window grouping option. Access to your virtual desktops come courtesy of desktop shortcuts and a handy management window. The applications you have open can be moved between your desktops by simply dragging and dropping them. In addition to this, each of your desktops can be individually customised, so you can apply different wallpapers to each one. A number of skins provided with the program allow you to customise the look of the interface, and more skins are available for download from the gallery at www.shelltoys.com.

Installation

Install CoolDesk 3.83

X-Setup 6.1

Ever since Windows first hit the world of computing, users have been keen to break away from the uniform look and apply a degree of customisation. There are many tools available which enable you to do this (the most famous being Microsoft's own TweakUI), but X-Setup gives a range of options not seen in many other programs. While Windows itself offers a limited selection of customisation tools, this is restricted to mere cosmetic changes such as altering colours and the background image. X-Setup goes much further than this, allowing you to delve deeper making standard customisations and increase performance. Changes that once required editing registry can now be accessed from an Explorer-like tree structure - changing executable priority, improving internet performance and setting numerous hardware options. Included in this version of X-Setup are several new options specific to Windows 2000 and XP.

Installation

Install X-Setup 6.1

LogonUI 1.02

While much of Windows XP can be customised using familiar programs, there are some new features which seem untouchable. Once such area of the operating system is the log on screen you see before Windows completes loading. While this is beyond the scope of other tweaking utilities, XP LogonUI 1.02 allows you to replace the standard log on screen with one of you choice.

Installation

Install LogonUI 1.02

AimAtSite Toolbar for IE

If you need to keep a track of various pieces of system information, CoolMon (formally CoolInfo) is the tool for you. The information can be useful for diagnosing problems and tracking down exactly which program is eating all of your memory. A small configurable window is used to display a range of information from processor usage through free Ram to network read and write speeds. If you are running a Distributed Client program, (such as the SETI project), these processes can be individually excluded from the display to give a more useful processor usage counter. CoolMon can be setup to monitor remote computers by configuring it as a client/server. The program uses Windows 2000/XP performance counters to obtain some of its information, so is best used on these systems. Using either of these operating systems, you can also take advantage of Alpha Transparency to make the display less intrusive.

System requirements: Windows 2000 or higher

Installation

Install AimAtSite Toolbar for IE