10. Change the Default Installation Directory

If you like to install your software on a separate drive or partition, you might find this tip handy. It will allow you to change the default installation directory for new programs from 'c:\program files' to whatever location you'd like.

To do this open Regedit and Navigate to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Windows\CurrentVersion\'

Double click the 'ProgramFilesDir' value. Change the value to the directory you wish to be the default installation location for your software.

11. Associate and Un-Associate Applications From Certain File Types.

File associations are what tells Windows XP which applications should open which type of files. Every file type has or will acquire a default program to open it (as long as one is available on the machine) and will then use this program every time. Since many programs will change these file associations when they are installed (to make themselves the default software), it's quite possible to end up with an application you do not want opening your pictures or documents.

To change this, you will need to open an explorer window such as 'my computer' then go to 'tools\folder options.' From the folder options, select the 'file types' tab, and wait while Windows builds the list of file types present on your PC.

Scroll through the 'registered file types' box until you find the file extension of the file type you wish to change; JPEG, JPG or JPE for JPEG graphic files, for example. Highlight it and hit the 'change' button below to select a new application to open this file type by default.

As an alternative, you can also right click any file, go to 'properties.' And click the 'change' button to choose your application.