25 Windows Hidden Tools You Seldom Use
To run any of these apps go to Start > Run and type the executable name and press Enter.
1. Character Map (charmap.exe) -> Very useful for finding unusual characters.
2. Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) -> The usual Disc cleanup.
3. Clipboard Viewer (clipbrd.exe) -> Views contents of Windows clipboard.
4. Dr Watson (drwtsn32.exe) -> Troubleshooting tool,runs when windows crashes.
5. DirectX diagnosis (dxdiag.exe) -> Diagnose & test DirectX, video & sound cards.
6. Private character editor (eudcedit.exe) -> Allows creation or modification of characters.
7. IExpress Wizard (iexpress.exe) -> Create self-extracting / self-installing package.
8. Microsoft Synchronization Manager (mobsync.exe) -> Appears to allow synchronization of
files on the network for when working offline. Apparently undocumented.
9. Windows Media Player (mplay32.exe) -> Retro version of Media Player, very basic.
10. ODBC Data Source Administrator (odbcad32.exe) -> Database connection utility for
support with external servers,create ODBC data sources,to administer remote databases
or for supporting the ODBC database utility in Visual basic language.
11. Object Packager (packager.exe) -> To do with packaging objects for insertion in files,
appears to have comprehensive help files.
12. System Monitor (perfmon.exe) -> Very useful, highly configurable tool, tells you everything
you ever wanted to know about any aspect of PC performance, for budding uber-geeks only.
13. Program Manager (progman.exe) -> Legacy Windows 3.x desktop shell.
14. Remote Access phone book (rasphone.exe) -> Documentation is virtually non-existent.
15. Registry Editor (regedt32.exe or regedit.exe) -> For making custom changes or
hacking the Windows Registry.
16. Network shared folder wizard (shrpubw.exe) -> Creates shared folders on network.
17. File signature verification tool (sigverif.exe) -> This tool will search the operating system,
identify any unsigned device drivers installed on the system. It will also verify all signed
device drivers.
18. Volume Control (sndvol32.exe) -> I've included this for those people that lose it from the
System Notification area.
19. System Configuration Editor (sysedit.exe) -> Modify System.ini & Win.ini just like in Win98!
20. Syskey (syskey.exe) -> Secures XP Account database, use with care, it's virtually
undocumented but it appears to encrypt all passwords, I'm not sure of the full implications.
21. Microsoft Telnet Client (telnet.exe) -> Built in telnet client which can be used to connect to
servers to sent emails or to hack :) This is disabled in in vista but you can re-enable it by
going to
Control panel –> Programs and Features –> Click "Turn Windows features on or off" on left
–> Scroll down and check "Telnet Client.
22. Driver Verifier Manager (verifier.exe) -> Seems to be a utility for monitoring the actions of
drivers, might be useful for people having driver problems. Undocumented.
23. Windows for Workgroups Chat (winchat.exe) -> Appears to be an old NT utility to allow
chat sessions over a LAN, help files available.
24. System configuration (msconfig.exe) -> Can use to control startup programs, make
changes to startup of XP.
25. Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) -> Used to manage group policies, and permissions.
Its an Administrator only tool.
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