System settings that I'm often compelled do change as soon as I use a new machine:


- Enable QuickEdit in the DOS window
        - in DOS window, Alt+Space, Properties, "Options" tab, check QuickEdit mode
        - or, set HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console\QuickEdit = 1, to make the setting apply to ALL DOS boxes


- Disable the auto-menu-item-hiding
        - right click Taskbar, Properties, "Start Menu" tab, Customize, locate and disable the "Use Personalized Menus" checkbox


- Re-enable menu letter underlining
        - right click on desktop, Properties, "Appearance" tab, Effects, disable "Hide underlined letters for keyboard navigation"
                -- what's the registry entry for this?


- Disable menu-fade  (perceptually, it makes the whole computer seem "slow")
        - right click on desktop, Properties, "Appearance" tab, Effects, disable "Use the following transition effect" checkbox



==== If it's a computer I more or less "control" ====

- change file Explorer back to something more sane
        1. Tools, Folder options, "View" tab, make LOTS of changes
        2. View, Details;  Tools, Folder options, Apply to All Folders


- change the silly XP start-menu/taskbar back to the classic one