Introduction:

Windows XP, the latest operating system from Microsoft, is quickly becoming the most popular among desktop users in the world today. For the average user, perhaps one of its most appealing features is its highly customizable interface. However, the power user will find that it is even more customizable by editing the vast coded labyrinth known as the Windows registry.

The average home user does not know how to edit the registry, or where to find the settings they would like to change. Enter Magic Tweak from Efreesky Software. This easy to use, graphic user interface program is in reality a registry editor that bridges the gap between grandmother and system administrator when it comes to customizing the Windows environment. For the more experienced user or administrator, there are advanced features for tweaking the way the computer handles information and restricting certain types of access from less experienced users.

Anyone can use this program. It is easy to install, and the user interface is very simple, however it is not recommended for the inexperienced user to change settings in the advanced areas.

Functionality:

Magic Tweak has a lot to offer the novice or expert user. Its functions can replace some other programs on the market today. For example, it gives the user the ability to erase all records of any internet activity and to set Windows to do so every time the PC is shut down or reboots. In addition to clearing internet histories, it can also remove recently opened documents lists from many popular programs such as Windows Media Player, Paint and WinZip, adding an extra measure of privacy and security to your system. An advanced user can also use it to change the location of things like the Start menu on the hard drive, confusing hackers and would-be snoops.

Also built in to Magic Tweak are some powerful system utilities. It has an improved installer/uninstaller window that actually uses the existing Windows controls, but gives the user more options, such as the option to manually delete an entry from the list of installed programs. There is a network tweaking tool which allows you to manually set things like MTU and TCP/IP windows size, thus increasing the actual download speed on many DSL and Cable connections (This is how those cable accelerator programs that have been available for many years increase your speed).

Magic Tweaks biggest and brightest functions are its many customization options. It makes Internet Explorer highly customizable. You can add or remove skins from your Internet Explorer tool bar. You ever get tired of those stupid icons that get added to your Tools (like AOL or icons from your ISP etc.) when you download certain software? I do, and I love the fact that Magic Tweak provides an easy interface for removing them. There are also some useless but cool customization tricks up its sleeve. For instance, you can change the icon that shows up in Windows Explorer for each folder on your hard drive, so instead of seeing a little yellow folder on c:\Windows, you can see the Windows Logo, or which ever icon you choose. You can also modify the ?OEM Info? system properties that show up when you right click on My Computer and choose properties. You can even add your own custom logos the way the big computer companies do. Magic Tweak also makes the Windows XP Start Menu more customizable, by giving the user the ability to add or remove each little detail, like the name that shows up at the top, or the items that are available and unavailable. You can even set your computer to auto-login if you?re not a security nut.

Conclusion:

There are many more advanced features not covered in this review. Many of you may already be familiar with Microsoft?s Power Tools for Windows, which have been released since Windows 95 first hit the streets (also known as TweakUI). Magic Tweak is TweakUI times ten, and then some. It does all the stuff the Power Tools package ever did, in addition to replacing many utility, maintenance and privacy programs. For it?s sheer capability and ease of use, I can say this is one of the best Windows utilities I have seen in a long time.