How to change the default wallpaper folder in XP?

By default, Windows XP looks in C:\Windows for the wallpaper images that it uses to populate the list of available backgrounds in the Display Properties | Desktop dialog box. Wouldn't it be handier if you could have it look in a different folder, such as your My Pictures folder where you probably save your favorite images? Well, you can - with a simple registry edit.

1. Open the registry editor
2. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion
3. In the right details pane, double click the value WallPaperDir (if it doesn't exist, create a new string value and give it that name)
4. In the Value data field of the Edit String dialog box, type or paste the path to the My Pictures folder (or whatever folder you want Windows to look in for wallpapers). For example: c: \ Documents and Settings \ *your user name* \ My Documents \ My Pictures
5.Close the registry editor

You should not have to reboot to apply the change; you can now open the Display Properties | Desktop dialog box and you'll see the images from your chosen folder in the list.

How to find out who has used or tried to use your printer?

If you share the printer attached to your XP Pro machine with others, you can find out who has used it - or tried to use it - by enabling auditing on the printer. Here's how you set it up:

1. Log on with an administrative account.
2. In Windows Explorer, click Tools | Folder Options | View tab.
3. Uncheck "Sue Simple File Sharing (Recommended)."
4. Click Start | Control Panel (classic view) | Administrative Tools | Local Security Policy
5. In the left pane, click to expand Local Policies.
6. Click Audit Policy.
7. Double click Audit Object Access in the right pane.
8. Select to audit both successes and failures.
9. Click Start | Printers and Faxes.
10. Right click the icon for your printer and select Properties.
11. Click the Security tab.
12. Click Advanced.
13. Click the Auditing tab.
14. Click Add, and add the Everyone group. Click OK.
15. Select the types of access you want to audit (Print, Manage Printers, Manage Documents, etc.).
16. When some successfully uses the printer or performs other audited tasks, it will be recorded in the System log. When someone who doesn't have permission tries to print, it will be recorded in the Security log. You can view the logs by clicking Start | Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Event Viewer.

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