Creating SYSTEM Folders in Windows XP (con, prn, aux, etc)

Just curious around the working of Windows XP.. i found one interesting stuff!
Folders with name: CON, PRN, AUX, CLOCK$, NUL, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8, COM9, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, & LPT9 cant be created using Windows Explorer or Command Prompt directly!

This is prevented as XP terms these folders as SYSTEM Folder Names reserved only for the Operating System..
But our curious brains dont stop pondering over such pessy stuff!

I searched around the net & found this trick to create system folders on XP through command prompt!

Try this:
CREATION
Syntax:md \\.\\$path
Example:prompt>md \\.\\C:\con
Explanation: This would create a folder named "con" on your "C Drive"

Similarly to delete such folder:
DELETION
Syntax:rd/s \\.\\$path
Example:prompt>rd/s \\.\\C:\con
Explanation: This would remove the folder named "con"!
Note: rd(Remove Directory) command is used with "/s" switch as otherwise it would give error that "folder is not empty"!

On another hand...if you ever wondered how to create a folder with no name...then try this:
Create a New Folder from Windows Explorer
Select rename & type: "ALT+255"(Use Numpad)..thats it!
ALT+255 stands for blank character in ASCII...so it still accepts your folder name!

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Free Subdomains or Redirection URL's Available!

Over the internet, there has been various subdomain & redirection URL services coming up...
Just thought of compiling the list here...

http://www.freeurl.com
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Few of the best ones...
http://www.dot.tk/ (Top Level Domain(TLD) Redirection)
http://www.uni.cc/ (redirection & DNS Services)
http://www.acidmist.com/
http://www.freedomain.co.nr (Best service with no ads)

If you know any more or find few deadlinks...just post in the comment & i would add to the list for the compilation!

Missing/Disappearing Battery/Power Icon/Meter in Windows XP SP2 on Acer, IBM Thinkpad, Toshiba, etc Laptops!

You got a brand new laptop with Windows XP SP2 & applied those Windows Update??
A few days later you get this annoying loss of POWER METER/BATTERY ICON from the system tray!

I did a few research & four possible solutions found are listed here...

Solution 1:
1. Right-click on My Computer, Click on Manage
2. Expand 'Services & Applications'
3. Highlight 'Services'
4. Look through list of services on the right....
5. Find Universal Plug & Play Device Host
6. Right-click on it.
7. Click properties.
8. Change startup type to 'Disabled'
9. Do exactly the same with 'SSDP discovery service'

Restart & you would get your Icon BACK!

Solution 2:
1. Open Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs.
2. In the sidebar, click on Add/Remove Windows Components.
3. Scroll down to Networking Services, select it, and click the Details... button.
4. Uncheck UPnP User Interface & other UPnP Service Listed.
5. OK your way out, close Add/Remove Programs, and reboot.
All tray icons should appear normally, without the need to log off and back on.

Solution 3:
1. START, RUN, type "regedit", then enter
2. Once in the Registry Editor, navigate the left directory tree to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
3. Then right click on the right window pane, click new, then string value.
4. Give the new string value the name "systray"
5. Your new value should now have the name "systray", the type "REG_SZ", and no/empty data.
6. Right click on your new "systray" value and click "modify".
7. Now give "systray" the value data: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\systray.exe"
8. Click ok and close the Registry Editor.
9. Restart your computer.

Solution 4:
1. Save the following "systray.zip" file & unzip it to extract "systray.reg"
Download(Save Target As): http://www.filefactory.com/file/a1b9773/n/systray_zip
2. Double click the file to add the contents to registry!
3. Then restart the PC & it would be solved...
Source: Digiportal Software

Above is also the general solution for any other System Tray Icons Failing/Disappearing from Loading...
Apart from this, no other concrete solution has been yet discovered by me...

Another part you must be worried regarding the services disable & unistallation of UPnP stuff! Well..as of now UPnP is not much used, so you can safely do the steps as i said...until microsoft provides an solution in future releases!

If you have another uncommon problem like Windows XP/2K/2K3 Server showing wrong battery time, then you need to get a hotfix from Microsoft...
Read: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889816

Please post the solution which worked for you as an comment to this post & also stat wat exactly was your problem, so others can be benefited from it!

Sources:
Google & Annoyances.org
Notes: This article has been tested on my Acer Aspire 3002NLC Laptop & also found to be working on other company models like IBM Thinkpad, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony Vaio, etc..

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