Make NT See a Second CPU
When you add a second processor to your server, NT might not use it automatically. The NT 4.0 Resource Kit includes a utility called UPTOMP.EXE that makes NT recognize additional processors.

Domain vs. Workgroup
When installing NT Server you must decide whether you're setting up an administrative domain or a peer-to-peer workgroup. Domains provide central security and management over all NT computers connected to them, while workgroups treat each server or workstation separately.

Save Your Config First
Before making any changes using the Disk Administrator tool (WINDISK.EXE), save the current configuration. Insert a blank formatted floppy, and select Configuration/Save from the Partition menu. If anything goes wrong, you can easily restore your original settings by choosing Partition/Configuration/Restore.

Don't Click Here
On server Desktops you can get rid of the "Click here to begin" arrow displayed at logon with the following Registry change. Go to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer and locate the NoStartBanner key. Change the default binary value of 00 00 00 00 to 01 00 00 00 and save your changes.

Neat Notepad Shortcut
If you use Notepad all the time, add a shortcut to the All Users Startup menu. In the shortcut's Target box type START /MIN NOTEPAD.EXE. Now when you log on, you'll find a minimized Notepad on the Taskbar. Drag a file in Explorer over the Notepad icon. When Notepad opens, drop the file into its window area. Minimize Notepad again to keep it active for subsequent edits.

Expedited Exploring
Want a quick and painless way to access the Windows NT Explorer on a stock NT Server Desktop? Simply right-click your mouse on top of the Start button and select Explore. If you have a Windows keyboard, you can press WinKey+E to do the same thing.

Avoid Accidental Registry Edits
By default, NT will let you double-click on a file with a REG extension to make Registry modifications to the file. To keep this from happening, Choose View/Options, select the File Types tab from any Explorer window and scroll down to Registration Entries. Choose Edit, select Edit in the Actions list and click on Set Default. Now, Notepad REG files will open in Notepad.

Big Logs Need Space
It's a good idea to keep detailed log information for your NT Server. However, a busy system can generate a large amount of data in a short time. To ensure that your system doesn't stall, configure Event Viewer to overwrite the oldest log file entries when the file reaches its maximum size. To do this, open Event Viewer and select Log/Log Settings. Click on the "Overwrite event as needed" radio button. Do this for each Log group (System, Security and Application.)

Be Descriptive
With administrative rights, you can use the Server Manager application to change the description information for any NT machine on your LAN. Simply double-click on the computer you wish to change and enter the desired string into the Description box.

Swift System Stats
Don't forget the often overlooked Windows NT Diagnostics program found under Start/Administrative Tools. You'll find useful statistics on network activities under the Network tab. The Settings and Statistics buttons offer a quick summary of especially crucial networking parameters.

Voice Mail Kills Modem?
If you use Telco-supplied voice mail on the same phone line you use for modem sharing, Remote Access Service (RAS) Dialer might have trouble detecting a dial tone. To fix it, open Modems in Control Panel and select your modem. Click on Dialing Properties and add three commas to the "To access an outside line, first dial" box; click on OK. Next, open the Properties menu, select the Connection tab and uncheck the "Wait for dial tone before dialing" box.

Nix Internet NetBIOS
NetBIOS can waste a lot of network bandwidth if you're using a dial-up link to the Internet. To stop this, turn off the NetBIOS interface on all outbound Internet adapters through the Network applet in the Control Panel. Don't disable NetBIOS for your internal network, however, or you'll be unable to talk to anyone.