One of the minor but still pesky things about Windows XP is the default Windows Messenger that automatically starts when you boot up your computer. With all the new messaging software available such as Skype, Yahoo Messenger and Meebo, you really don’t need Windows Messenger sitting useless on your taskbar eating up precious resources.

Here’s how to give it the boot.

On your Windows XP machine, click on Start > Run

On the text box paste the line below:

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\inf\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

So that it looks like this:

Then click OK.

You will see a quick window near the top left of your screen which signify the files involving Windows Messenger going into cyberspace heaven, where all good deleted files go. After this, no more useless Windows Messenger in your PC or on your task bar.

*thanks to an old post by one of my favorite tipsters, LiewCF.com

One of the fastest and most convenient ways to move files from one computer to another is via a USB external drive.

However, this is also the fastest and most effective way to spread worms and other infections. There are viruses that have been created especially for removable drives, which happily jump from the drive into any machine that they are attached to. (Click HERE for an example) External drives are a favorite among family members, co-workers and people who are quite generous with their files.

One way to avoid spreading an infection through a removable drive is this:

Hold the Shift key down while you are inserting the drive, and keep it down for about 5 to 10 seconds. This stops your computer from “reading” the contents of the drive and allows you time to scan it with your anti-virus program before actually opening the drive. If the external drive is infected, your antivirus program will detect and quarantine it before it does any damage.

Make sure your external drives—or any drive your family, friends and/or co-workers may attach to your computer—are clean and you will have done a few other people you don’t even know a favor.

Of course, one of your primary computer housekeeping tasks is to make sure your antivirus program does update itself regularly and that you have a scheduled scan that runs on your lunch hour or any time of the day when you are away and not using your computer. Of course, your computer has to be on at the time (did I just say that? Well, just making sure…)