I found a super easy way to save windows updates.

Windows Updates Downloader

First download and install the program. Then choose your windows language in updates list.

Select the file appropriate to your windows version. When presented with the option to open or save, simply open the UL and it will automatically install itself in the WUD program folder.

When you open the program you will presented with the available updates, choose among them and when you click download they will be saved in download folder.

Microsoft is shipping Windows Home Server’s 120 day tryout DVDs for free.

To obtain the DVD click here.

Select your location.

Select your country and continue.

There are four language options. Select the one you want and click buy now.

Fill out your shipping information.

You will receive the dvd soon.

note: there is no shipping fee.

My Computer / right click / Properties / Advanced / Environment Variables /

Below the bottom Environment Variables window pane (System Variables), click on New. Enter for “Variable Name”:

“DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES”

and for “Variable Value” enter 1

Then My computer / right click / manage

right click Device Manager, click on View and then select Show hidden devices from the menu. You can identify the hidden devices by their grayed-out icons and remove them.

If you remove a piece of hardware without first uninstalling it in Device Manager, the drivers remains behind, but the device no longer shows up in Device Manager by default. By removing unused driver your system speed will not increase, but it is good for cleaning and may lower conflicts with new drivers, and may also prevent possible system errors.

win+r –> regedit

* HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop\

AutoEndTasks, modify the Value data to 1.

* HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop\

Set WaitToKillAppTimeout value to 1000

Set HungAppTimeout value to 1000

* HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\

Set ClearPageFileAtShutdown value to 0

* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\

Set WaitToKillAppTimeout value to 1000

Set HungAppTimeout value to 1000

* HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\

Set WaitToKillServiceTimeout to 1000

Other settings:

Disable any hardware driver that you will not use such as modem (dial-up) and diskette driver.

 
Since we can change themes, icons, then why not cursors? After all when we are not using applications in full screen mode they are always on our sight.

And here is how to change default cursors with your custom ones:
First we have to find ourselves some cursors. I have included few links below where you can find quality cursors.

After you get your cursors from these sites copy them to

C:\Windows\Cursors

Cursors with *ani extension are animated whereas others ending with *.cur are static.

After you copied your cursors to cursors folder, go to

Start –> Control Panel –> Mouse –> "Pointers" tab –> Highlight the cursor you want to change –> Browse and find your custom cursor –> Apply

Custom cursor resources:
http://www.Deviant Art.com/
http://www.appleblossomart.com/cursors.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~SlvrDragon/other.html

Some of my favorite ones:

total hilarity