I have compiled a list of all the hidden applications available in Windows XP. Many of them are quite common and are known by many.

Remember, to ruu these applications, all you need to do is go to Start > Run and type any of the following commands:

25 Hidden Applications in Windows XP

1) Character Map = charmap.exe (very useful for finding unusual characters)

2) Disk Cleanup = cleanmgr.exe

3) Clipboard Viewer = clipbrd.exe (views contents of Windows clipboard)

4) Dr Watson = drwtsn32.exe (Troubleshooting tool)

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 5.1 = mplay32.exe (Retro version of Media Player, very basic).

10) ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbcad32.exe (something to do with databases)

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 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-existant).

15) Registry Editor = regedt32.exe [also regedit.exe] (for hacking the Windows Registry).

16) Network shared folder wizard = shrpubw.exe (creates shared folders on network).

17) File siganture verification tool = sigverif.exe

18) Volume Contro = 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

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 starup programs)

25) gpedit.msc used to manage group policies, and permissions

43 Hidden Applications in Windows XP

Ok, so this was the manual way. Now if you find difficult to type each of them, why don’t you give this a try (Let me know if the link dies!). It’s a Hidden Application Enabler. Install this to enable all the applications found until now (43, I guess).

List of applications revealed:

Version 1 unlocked the following 25 utilities:

Configuration Utility
Object Packager
Task Manager
Windows Migration Manager
Synchronization Manager
Remote Desktop Connection
Text to Speach Narrator
Windows Address Book
Address Book Migrator
Windows Version
Character Map
Disk Cleanup Utility
Clipboard Viewer
Dr Watson diagnosis
Direct X diagnosis
Private Character Editor
Express Install Wizard
Data Source Admin
System Monitor
Registry Editor
Network Sharing Wizard
Siganture Verification Tool
System Configuration Editor
Telnet Client
Windows Network Chat

NEW! – Version 2 unlocked a further 18 utilities

Windows Management Infrastructure
Windows Services
Windows Local Security Settings
Resultant Set of Policy
Performance Monitoring
Removable Storage Operator Requests
Removable Storage Management
Local User and Group Manager
Group Policy Object Editor
Shared Folder Manager
Event Viewer
Disk Management
Disk Defragmenter
Device Manager
Computer Management
Indexing Services
Certificates
Component Services

So that makes it 43 :) . Try them and tell me if they are any use to you. You never know when the time comes to use them ;) .