How to make network cables

To expand my home network for the various HTPC projects I've worked on I purchased a large roll of cat6 cable and some connectors. This site has a good tutorial on how to connect the connectors on the cables and properly set up the network wiring.

http://www.weethet.nl/english/network_utp_cables.php

How to clean data from a PC before selling it.

Nice article on how to clean up a hard drive/PC before giving it away or selling it:

http://www.lifehacker.com/software/hard-drives/ask-lifehacker--how-do-i-clean-a-computers-hard-drive-before-i-sell-it-229531.php

Article on how to speed up windows XP

I've used some of these tips to speed up Windows on my PC's. They work well:
http://www.activehowto.com/how-to/4/11/414.htm

Speed up Internet Explorer

Thanks to www.zedomax.com for the tip
Internet Explorer performance is greatly dependent in part on the number of simultaneous connections that can be made for a current page. By default, the value is 4. This means only a maximum of 4 simultaneous connectons will be made per server.

Start > Run > Regedit
Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Internet Settings
Name: MaxConnections PerServer
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 10 (Decimal)
Name: MaxConnections Per1_0Server
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 10 (decimal)

If these keys dont already exist, create them by doing the following:

1. Make one DWORD value [Right click, New> DWORD Value] and name it "MaxConnections Per1_0Server" then put 10 under decimal value
2. Make a second DWORD value [Right click, New> DWORD Value] and name it "MaxConnections PerServer" then put 10 under decimal value
   

That's it. It should help out on Internet Explorer speed - especially for certain web applications. Another alternative would be to use Firefox. Firefox is a better web browser anyway.

How to use a second wrt54g router as a Access Point (WAP)

I have a second wrt54g wireless router that I want to use as a WAP and not a router. Here's how to do it:

NOTE: I have updated these instructions in more detail and re-posted them in THIS POST. Please check out the updated instructions. Thanks!