Microsoft has released Tweak UI 1.33 . The Microsoft Windows Shell Development Team has put together a set of productivity tools called PowerToys. If you're a Windows power-user, go ahead and try them out, but realize these are unsupported tools. Microsoft Technical Support is unable to answer questions about PowerToys. Supports Win9x, Windows ME, Windows NT, and Windows 2000. Microsoft has also released an XP version. TweakUI for XP is now available as part of the PowerToys for XP.

When you used Tweak UI to setup automatic logon in Windows 2000, the password appears in plaintext in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. However, when you use the latest version of Tweak UI, the password no longer appears at this location. Instead, it is encrypted in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SECURITY\Policy\Secrets\DefaultPassword.

I like TweakUI. But consider the more powerful freeware X-Setup which currently includes 500+ tweaks. For administrators, the following feature is compelling.

With Record Mode activated, nearly all changes from a plug-in or wizard are recorded to a REG file. This file can then be easily applied to thousands of machines without needing to install X-Setup on them .

X-Setup works for Windows 95, Windows 98 (SE), Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Windows ME

Another alternative is WinHacker. Many of the settings that change the way Windows works and feels are hidden in the overwhelming registry, or in configuration files. WinHacker features:

• Ability to rename or change the icon of any shell folder (such as My Computer, Recycle Bin).
• Add / Remove specific shell folders from My Computer or the Desktop.
• Ability to move your desktop directory, and other folders such as Favorites, etc
• Show Windows Bitmaps as thumbnails in Explorer.
• Scripting language to create 'plugins' that can modify the registry, INI files, etc.
• Full context-sensitive help (What's This? help).
• Windows 95/98/2000 and Windows NT 4.0 specific features.

After the Resource Kits, the Admin Companions are next most useful books from Microsoft.