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Deuteronomy 18:10-11  "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead."

Rick Selby's

NEVER USE MS ENCRYPTION TO ENCRYPT FILES, IF YOU DO
AND A HARDDRIVE GOES BAD OR FILE PERMISSION/OWNERSHIP GETS CHANGED
YOU LOSE ACCESS TO THESE FILES. USE A THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE TO ENCRYPT FILES!!!

Windows XP & 2 K Help Page
XP and 2K are a lot alike, what works for one will work for the other, BUT not always.
Make sure you check the instructions carefully before making changes.

Site Visitors 
To find a topic on this page, Click Edit on the Toolbar, Find (on this page), type in keyword

If you are planning on upgrading to Vista, there are hardly any drivers available. They are not the same as XP and most likely you will not be able to find drivers for your hardware at this time. Check with your manufacture for Vista drivers before you upgrade or you may be out of luck for a while until someone comes up with drivers. This is another repeat of XP SP 2.

Three things to remember when you are working with computers.
• First thing is "YOU CAN DO IT".
• Second take your time, a little mistake can cause a big problem.
• Third all answers are only a question away.

Important Message!!!
***XP has a problem, it loses the Administrator's Password, make a Password Reset Disk
*** Create an Emergency Repair Disk
*** Block Bing search engine when using IE Explorer 6

• Add the following to the host file.
  • Do a search for hosts without and extension. Will be located in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\
  • When you find it open it using Word Pad and add the following.
    74.125.127.100 www.bing.com
    74.125.127.100 bing.com
  • Save the results and next time you do a search from the address bar. Google will be the default search engine. If you want Yahoo to be the default or any other search engine replace the IP Address with their IP Address.

Most problems with XP such as Error Messages, vxd Problems, Fatal Exceptions and other errors are the same as earlier Window Operating Systems. If you don't find the answer to a certain problem on this page please check the Windows Page and the Troubleshooting Page.

TABLE OF CONTENTS is after these links.
Here are some links for online virus program and also free spyware programs.
If you are experiencing computer Problems such as slowness, strange icons appearing, tool bars appearing, home page changing, please use one of the following links to check for a virus or trojan.


• Panda Virus Free Online Virus Scan
  
• AVG Anti-virus Program (FREE)
  • AVG is a great "FREE" program and I used to keep a link to the download but they keep changing it all the time and I can't keep this link up to date so Google "Download AVG Free" to get the download link. SORRY!

Please download the following programs to clean up spyware or malware. If you are experiencing a lot of popups, toolbars, search engines and things being added to your computer like porn sites, icons on the desktop you don't know what they are or where they came from this is most likely your problem.


• CW Shredder Should be run in Safe Mode
  • A program for cleaning Cool Web Search variants.
  • Download Here
• Hijacked this Cannot be run in Safe Mode
  • Download Here

HP and the problems with the Multimedia Audio Contoller
• HP and the problems with the Multimedia Audio Contoller
Features and Cleanup
• Features Windows XP Professional Edition Has that Window XP Home Edition Doesn't Have
• XP Repair Features, What They Are And When To Use Them
• Window XP Cleanup
XP Repair and Restore
• Windows XP Repair, what programs to use (System Restore, SFC, etc.) and when to use them.
• Reinstall or Repair Windows XP
• How To Repair Windows XP
• How to Remove Internet Explorer 6.0 or Outlook Express 6.0 Before You Reinstall Windows
Window Updates
• Automatic updates fail
• Windows Update Troubleshooting
• Reset the Automatic Updates System
• Repair Automatic Updates System
• Remove and Reinstall of Automatic Updates
• Promts to Install the Same Updates Every Day
• Disable the "Automatic Window Updates" Feature in XP
• What To Know Before You Download And Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
  • Before You Install SP 2
  • Is My Computer Ready To Install SP 2?
  • How To Install SP 2
  • Quick Tips For Successful Installation
XP Install
• Remote Shutdown Tool to Shut Down and Restart a Computer in Windows 2000 at a set time
• Change Product Key for XP Windows
• Reinstall or Repair Windows XP
• How to Remove Internet Explorer 6.0 or Outlook Express 6.0 Before You Reinstall Windows
• Clean Install of Windows XP
• Error Code: 0x80070002" error message cites license-checking issue after upgrade on Dell computer
  Note: This issue can be caused by any software that changes the default security provider. It is not limited to Dell computers or the Dell Assistant software.
MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based Program
• "16-bit MS-DOS Subsystem" error message when you run an MS-DOS or 16-Bit Windows program in Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server
• Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program
• Unable to Start Win 16 WOW Applications
• Win16 subsystem was unable to Enter protected mode, dosx.exe must be present in your path
Abort A 60 Second Shutdown
• How To Abort A 60 Second Shutdown So You Can Configure Your Computer After A Virus Attack
Add/Remove Programs
• Add/Remove Programs Won't Open
• An unexpected error occurred. Class not registered
  res://appwiz.cpl/listbox.htc
  Line:225 Line Numbers may differ
• Object doesn't support this property or method res://appwiz.cpl/default.hta
  Line: 75 Line Numbers may differ
• Fixing the Add/Remove Component
• How to Manually Remove Programs from the Add or Remove Programs Window
• Make All Programs Installed Visible In The Add/Remove Window
• Office Setup Does Not Complete Because BackWeb Agent Is Running
Adobe Flash Player Not Recognized By Web Sites
• Uninstall Adobe Flash Player and Reinstall. http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/
AOL
• AOL Error: Page Cannot Be Displayed Version 9.0
• AOL Sluggish, Clean Up AOL Temp Internet Files
Automated System Recovery (ASR)
• Create an Automated System Recovery set using Backup
• ASR Restore
• Recovering from a system failure using Automated System Recovery
• Using the Recovery Actions if Windows Stops Unexpectedly
Back Up Utility
• Back up Utility
Duel Boot System Using Windows XP
• How To Create A Multiple-Boot (Dual) System With Windows XP
• Remove A Multiple-Boot (Dual) System Menu
Boot
• Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
• Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE
• Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate
• Make The Administrator Account Show In The Login Menu
• Create Floppy Boot Disk
• Speed Up the Boot Menu
• Windows XP issues an 'Invalid Boot.ini' or 'Windows could not start …' error?
• Invalid BOOT.INI file, loading From C:\Windows
• How To Create A Multiple-Boot (Dual) System With Windows XP
• Remove Duel Boot System Menu
Boot.ini File
• Summary
• Save a Backup Copy of Boot.ini
• Edit the Boot.ini
• Sample Boot.ini File
• Modifying the Boot.ini
• Adding an Operating System
• Removing an Operating System
• Setting the Default Operating System
• Setting the Time Out
• Open the Boot.ini File to Verify Changes
• Available switch options for the Windows XP and the Windows Server 2003 Boot.ini files
• Load Printer Port in Safe Mode
• Invalid BOOT.INI file, loading From C:\Windows
• Windows XP issues an 'Invalid Boot.ini' or 'Windows could not start …' error?
Capture Image
• Print screen, Capture Screen, Make an image of the Desktop
CD/DVD
• Enabel CD Bruning
• CD DRIVE/DVD DRIVE: not accessible - Incorrect Function
Check Disk
• Using Check Disk
Content Advisor

• How to Remove Content Advisor Password in Internet Explorer
Control Panel
• Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."
• Can't open taskmgr, regedit…they open and close as quick as you open them. Usually caused by a Trojan or spyware. Run Ad-aware or Spyblaster. If still a problem e-mail me.
Copy Files From An Installation CD
• Extracting or Copying Files From The Operating System Cd Or Other Sources
Data Execution Prevention
• What is Data Execution Prevention
• How Data Execution Prevention Works
• "Data Execution Prevention" error message in Windows XP Service Pack 2
• DEP Solutions to Errors
Desktop
• No Desktop
Device Manager
• No Device Manager
Display
• Desktop Tab Missing In Display Properties
• Missing Tabs in "Display Properties all systems
• The Display Rotates 180 Degrees When You Lower Your Screen Resolution Using the Accessibility Wizard
Drives

• Drives Disappeared in XP
• Hide Drives
Encrypted Files and Folders
• Gain Ownership or Permissions on Files and Folders if a hard drive fails to save or move the data to another drive.
• How Files Are Encrypted
• Why You Must Back Up Your Certificates
• Back Up Your Certificate
• Change File attributes in DOS
• Add File attributes in DOS
• Encrypt a Folder in Windows XP
• Encrypt and Decrypt Using the Encrypting File System
• Remove File Encryption in Windows XP
• Decrypting a Folder
• Share Access to Encrypted Files
• Troubleshooting
Win XP Error Messages

• Window XP Error Message Page
Extract Files From An Installation CD
• Extracting or Copying Files From The Operating System Cd Or Other Sources
Favorites
• Internet Explorer Favorites is Missing
• Can't Find Favorites in XP
• Certain Users Can't Find Favorites in XP
Files
• Windows Cannot Access The Specified Device, Path Or File
• Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
• Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE
• Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate
• Gain Ownership or Permissions on Files and Folders if a hard drive fails to save or move the data to another drive.
• Cannot delete file: The filename you selected is invalid or too long
• Deleting A File With A Long File Extension That Will Not Let You Delete It. ( Usually Porn Related )
• Your System Has No Paging File, or the Paging File Is Too Small
• ATL.DLL Cannot Be Found
• Setting Permissions on Files and Folders
• Set File and Program Association
• Show Hidden Files and Extensions
• Show Super Hidden File Extensions (All Windows)
• How To Register A File
• Explanation of Regsvr32 Usage and Error Messages
• Cannot Find shell.dll
• Recover Files Free program to recover deleted files, a small program to do just that. ??? Had good reviews.
  Download Here
• File and Folder Management
  • Full Screen View and AutoHide
  • Show In Groups
  • Add Sort Options to Details View
Firewall
• Setup Windows XP Firewall
• Configure The Firewall To Allow Remote Assistance
• Uninstall Windows Firewall
• How Do I Uninstall McAfee's Personal Firewall/Plus?
Folders
• Gain Ownership or Permissions on Files and Folders if a hard drive fails to save or move the data to another drive.
• File and Folder Management
  • Full Screen View and AutoHide
  • Show In Groups
  • Add Sort Options to Details View
• Setting Permissions on Files and Folders
• Add or Remove Toolbar Buttons in Folder Windows
• Change How You View Items in a Folder
• Compress a File or Folder on an NTFS Drive
• Convert a Volume to NTFS From the Command Prompt
• Display Links to Common Tasks in Folders
• Display Encrypted or Compressed NTFS Files in Color
• Offline Files Overview
• Open Each Folder in its Own Window
• Open Each Folder in a Separate Part of Memory
• Replace Damaged History Folder
• You Cannot Select the "Make This Folder Private" Option
• You Cannot View or Change the Read-only or System Attribute of Folders
• System32 folder opens on boot up
• Folder Options Is Missing
• Show Hidden Files and Extensions
• Show Super Hidden File Extensions (All Windows)
• Open Any Folder Opens up Window Search
Graphics (Check under Images and Pictures also)
• In Win XP SP 2 IE Explorer click on View on the menu toolbar, on the drop down menu make sure Block Pictures is unchecked. Then click on the pictures to open them.
• "No Preview Available" and "File Format Is Not Supported" Error Messages Occur When You Try to View Graphic Files
Group Policy
• How To Set Logon User Rights By Using The Ntrights Utility In XP Home And Professional
• All About Group Policies
Hardware Icons
• Safely Remove Hardware Icon.
Hibernation
• What is Hibernate? Enabale/Disable
Internet Connections

• You May Receive A "Limited Or No Connectivity" After You Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 or an Error 678 Or Error 769
• "Error 629, 640, 691 or 734" Error Message When You Try to Connect to Your ISP
• Error Message: Error 633 Modem Is Already in Use
• Error Message "Error 633" When Starting Broadband Connection
• The TCP/IP network transport is not installed
Internet
• Can't Connect To Secure Sites
• Script Error When You Send Web Page by E-mail 
• AOL won't open Internet Sites or open E-mail 
IE Explorer 7
• The Request Lookup Key Was Not Found In Any Activaiton Context
• Repair IE Explorer 7
IE Explorer 6
• A Simple Way to Reinstall IE in XP
• Page Not Displayed Error
  • AOL Error: Page Cannot Be Displayed Version 9.0
  • Error Message: Error 501/505: Not Implemented or Not Supported
  • Error Message Appears When You Try to Start Internet Explorer
  • Error Message When You Try to Browse the Web: The Page Cannot Be Displayed
  • You Cannot Disable an Automatic Configuration Script in Internet Explorer
  • Cannot Open a Web Page in Internet Explorer and "Page Cannot Be Displayed"
  • Page Cannot be Displayed" or "Timeout" Error Messages When Browsing the Internet
  • Error Messages When You Try to Log On to a Security-Enhanced Web Site if Registry Key Is Damaged or Invalid
  • Cannot Gain Access to Certain Security-Enhanced Web Sites
  • Unable to Connect to Secure Web Page Using Internet Explorer
  • You Receive A "The Page Cannot Be Displayed" Error Message When You Access A Web Site That Is Hosted On A Windows XP SP 2-Based Computer
• Lock Internet Explorer's Home Page
• Remove third party branding in IE Explorer (logo)
• Remove Third Party Sites from the Tools menu in IE Explorer
• Internet Explorer opens with a blank page instead of web site
• I E Explorer Hangs
• Search does not work in 2K or XP
• How to download IE Explorer 6 and save it to disk
• DNS error; Could not find server or Cannot connect to server.
Internet Options
• Sites button and Custom Level Slider Are Grayed Out In Internet Options Security Tab
• Custom Level And Default Level Buttons In Internet Options Security Tab Are Grayed Out
Images
• In Win XP SP 2 click on View on the menu toolbar, on the drop down menu make sure Block Pictures is unchecked. Then click on the pictures to open them.
• "No Preview Available" and "File Format Is Not Supported" Error Messages Occur When You Try to View Graphic Files
• Print screen, Capture Screen, Make an image of the Desktop
Installing Windows (More Installing programs listed under Setup)
• Change Product Key for XP Windows
• Error Code: 0x80070002" error message cites license-checking issue after upgrade on Dell computer
  Note: This issue can be caused by any software that changes the default security provider. It is not limited to Dell computers or the Dell Assistant software.
• Stop 0x50" Error Message While Installing Windows
• "NTLDR is missing" error message when you install or upgrade Windows XP over Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition
iPod

• Ipod USB Problems Setting up your iPod
Links
• You Cannot Open New Internet Explorer Window or Nothing Happens After You Click a Link
• "Hyperlinks" do not work
• Internet Shortcuts in Outlook Express Do Not Start Web Browser
• Links on Links Toolbar do not work.
Login
• Auto login for Win XP
Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition
• Error 1304 Or Error 27000 When You Try To Install Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition
Media Player Error Codes and Solutions
• Media Codes
Monitors
• Monitor display looks bleached. You probably have the game Soldier of Fortune installed, remove it and your display will return to normal.
• IN XP right click desktop, go properties, uncheck font smoothing
MS Config
• MS Config is Missing
MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based Program
• Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program
Numbers Lock
• Enable the Num Lock Key on Boot Up
Outlook Passwords
• Your Password Is Not Retained in Outlook Express with Windows 2000 or Windows XP
Optimize Windows XP
• How To Optimize Windows XP
Paging File
• Your System Has No Paging File, or the Paging File Is Too Small
Page Not Displayed Error
• AOL Error: Page Cannot Be Displayed Version 9.0
• Error Message: Error 501/505: Not Implemented or Not Supported
• Error Message Appears When You Try to Start Internet Explorer
• Error Message When You Try to Browse the Web: The Page Cannot Be Displayed
• You Cannot Disable an Automatic Configuration Script in Internet Explorer
• Cannot Open a Web Page in Internet Explorer and "Page Cannot Be Displayed"
• Page Cannot be Displayed" or "Timeout" Error Messages When Browsing the Internet
• Error Messages When You Try to Log On to a Security-Enhanced Web Site if Registry Key Is Damaged or Invalid
• Cannot Gain Access to Certain Security-Enhanced Web Sites
• Unable to Connect to Secure Web Page Using Internet Explorer
• You Receive A "The Page Cannot Be Displayed" Error Message When You Access A Web Site That Is Hosted On A Windows XP SP 2-Based Computer
Password
• Make The Administrator Account Show In The Login Menu
• Please Type a Different Password" Error Message When You Change Your Password for a Second Time
• Your Password Is Not Retained in Outlook Express with Windows 2000 or Windows XP
• Lost/Forgotten Windows XP Password
• How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your Password Expires
  • Use a Password Reset Disk
  • Log On as an Administrator and Reset the Password
  • Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional in a Workgroup
  • Windows XP Professional in a Domain
• Create and Use a Password Reset Disk for a Computer That Is Not a Domain Member in Windows XP
  • Use a Computer Administrator Account
  • Use a Limited Account
  • Log on to the Computer By Using a Password Reset Disk
  • Troubleshooting
• Create and Use a Password Reset Disk for a Computer in a Domain in Windows XP (XP Pro Only)
  • How to Create a Password Reset Disk
  • How to Use a Password Reset Disk
  • Troubleshooting
Permission
• Make The Administrator Account Show In The Login Menu
• How To Set Logon User Rights By Using The Ntrights Utility In XP Home And Professional
Pictures
• In Win XP SP 2 click on View on the menu toolbar, on the drop down menu make sure Block Pictures is unchecked. Then click on the pictures to open them.
• "No Preview Available" and "File Format Is Not Supported" Error Messages Occur When You Try to View Graphic Files
• Print screen, Capture Screen, Make an image of the Desktop
• Very seldom do I promote a product on this site but this one is great, small and does a great job with making photo clearer and brighter and just nicer to look at.  Download Here
Pop Ups and Spam
• Stop Pop Up Spam
  • Provided by the FCC
  • Messenger Service - - - Message from System Alert on (Date) - - - STOP WINDOWS REQUIRES IMDEIATE ATTENTION.
  • Messenger Service - - - Message from System Alert on (Date) - - - Spam Alert
Power Saving Options
• What is Standby? Enable/Disable
• What is Hibernate? Enable/Disable
Prefetech
• Clean Up Prefetch
• Modifying and Disabling Prefetch Settings
Print
• Load Printer Port in Safe Mode
• Printing Error: The printer cannot be found.
• Error Message When You Print from Internet Explorer: Printing Error: The Printer Cannot Be Found
  Internet Explorer script error
  Line (This can be any line number)
  Char: 1
  Unspecified error:
  Code 0 URL: res://c:\windows\system\shdoclc.dll/preview.dlg .
• url res://c:\windows\system32\shdoclc.dll/preview.dlg
• Error Message When You Install an HP Officejet T45 or T65 Printer
• Print screen, Capture Screen, Make an image of the Desktop
• I E Explorer Can Not Find Printer
• Why does my parallel port (LPT) printer lockup or refuse to print in Windows® XP on my Dell™ Dimension™ 8100 computer?
Printers
• Lexmark Printers
Product Key (Product ID Number)
• Change Product Key for XP Windows
Profile
• Damaged Profile Problems with Windows XP
Program Compatibility Wizard
• Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program
• Using Program Compatibility Wizard
Recovery Console
• Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
• What Is the Recovery Console?
• Installing Windows XP Recovery Console
• Starting the Windows Recovery Console
• Using the Command Console
• Restrictions and limitations of the Recovery Console
• Available commands
  • HELP
  • ATTRIB
  • BATCH
  • BOOTCFG
  • CD and CHDIR
  • CHKDSK
  • CLS
  • COPY
  • DEL & DELETE
  • DISABLE
  • DISKPART
  • ENABLE
  • EXIT
  • EXPAND
  • FIXBOOT
  • FIXMBR
  • FORMAT
  • LISTSVC
  • LOGON
  • MAP
  • MD and MKDIR
  • MORE
  • NET
  • RD and RMDIR
  • REN and RENAME
  • SET
  • SYSTEMROOT
  • TYPE
Recover Files
• Recover Files Free program to recover deleted files, a small program to do just that. ??? Had good reviews.
  Download Here
Register Files
• How To Register A File
• Explanation of Regsvr32 Usage and Error Messages
Registry
• Recover From A Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP From Starting
• An Error Occurred While Trying to Update Your Registry
Reinstall or Repair
• Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP
• Do a clean install using an Window XP update CD
Remote Procedure Call
• ERROR MESSAGE: Remote Procedure Call was terminated unexpectedly and computer will shut down in 60 seconds
• Download Fix here for Windows XP
Remote (ASSISTANCE) Desktop in Windows XP
• Remote Assistance Features
• Using Remote Assistance
• Enable Remote Assistance in Windows XP
• Enabling Remote Assistance in Control Panel
• Enable Remote Assistance in the Registry
• Using Offer Remote Assistance
• Provide Remote Assistance in Response to an E-mail Invitation in Windows XP
• Provide Help by Using Remote Assistance
• Obtain Remote Assistance Using Windows Messenger in Windows XP
• Obtain Help Using Remote Assistance
• Provide Help by Using Remote Assistance
• Change the E-mail Program That Is Used By Remote Assistance
• "Logoff" and "Shutdown" Are Missing From the Start Menu When You Use Remote Desktop
Run Command
• 'Run' Doesn't Show Up In Start Menu
Safe Mode
• Win XP
• What is Safe Mode
• Safe mode in Windows 2000 and XP
• Can't Boot Up To Safe Mode In XP
• Win XP Stuck In Safe Mode
Scan Disk, Win XP doesn't have a scandisk, it is called Check Disk in XP
• Using Check Disk
scannow sfc (Window File Protection)
• Using sfc /scannow
Search

• Search Stops Working In XP
• Block Bing search engine when using IE Explorer 6
  
  • Add the following to the host file.
    • Do a search for hosts without and extension. Will be located in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\
    • When you find the host file without any extension, open it using Word Pad and add the following.
      74.125.127.100 www.bing.com
      74.125.127.100 bing.com
    • Save the results
    • Next time you do a search from the address bar. Google will be the default search engine. If you want Yahoo to be the default or any other search engine replace the IP Address with their IP Address.
Security
• How To Set Logon User Rights By Using The Ntrights Utility In XP Home And Professional
• MS' Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA)
Security Error Messages
• Messenger Service - -- Message from System Alert on (Date) - - - STOP WINDOWS REQUIRES IMDEIATE ATTENTION.
• Messenger Service - - -Message from System Alert on (Date) - - - Spam Alert
Disable Running Services
• Disable Service Control Applet Services (Disable Running Services)
SP2
• What To Know Before You Download And Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
  • Before You Install SP 2
  • Is My Computer Ready To Install SP 2?
  • How To Install SP 2
  • Quick Tips For Successful Installation
Speed up Windows XP
• Remove files from Prefetch Folder
• Clean up the hard drive
• Removing Programs From Windows XP Startup
Security
• Make The Administrator Account Show In The Login Menu
• How to Set the Privacy Options in IE Explorer 6.
• Encrypt Your Data to Keep It Safe
• Use Access Control to Restrict Who Can Use Files
Services
• Remove Services from Startup
Setup
• "Error 1603: A Fatal Error Occurred During Installation"
• Change Product Key for XP Windows
• Error Message When You Install or Start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based Program
• "Error Loading Operating System" Error Message When You Restart Your Computer During Setup
• Ntkrnlmp.exe Could Not Be Loaded Error Code 7 Error Message
• "NTLDR is missing" error message when you install or upgrade Windows XP over Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition
Standby
• What is Standby? Enable/Disable
Startup
• Remote Shutdown Tool to Shut Down and Restart a Computer in Windows 2000 at a set time
• Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
• Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE
• Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate
• shlwapi.dll Error Messages
• "Error 1603: A Fatal Error Occurred During Installation"
• Recover From A Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP From Starting
• How To Abort A 60 Second Shutdown So You Can Configure Your Computer After A Virus Attack
• Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program
• You receive a "RUNDLL Error loading irprops.cpl" error message when you start Windows XP
• You Receive An "Explorer.Exe Has Generated Errors And Will Be Closed By Windows" Error Message
• "Explorer has encountered an error and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."
• VXD Startup Error Messages
• Removing Programs From Windows XP Startup
• Setup Stops When Inspecting Computer Hardware Configuration
• "STOP 0x0000001E" Error Message During Windows Setup
• A Stop: 0xc000026C or Stop: 0xc0000221 "Unable to Load Device Driver" Error Occurs When You Start Windows XP
• "STOP 0x000000ED UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" Error Message During Windows XP Upgrade
• Invalid BOOT.INI file, loading From C:\Windows
• Windows XP issues an 'Invalid Boot.ini' or 'Windows could not start …' error?
Shortcut Keys
• These are the shortcut keys for Windows, Office, Explorer and Front Suites, InternPage
Shut down
• Remote Shutdown Tool to Shut Down and Restart a Computer in Windows 2000 at a set time
• How To Force Users To Quit Programs And Log Off After A Period Of Inactivity In Windows XP
• How To Abort A 60 Second Shutdown So You Can Configure Your Computer After A Virus Attack
• "Error Loading Operating System" Error Message When You Restart Your Computer During Setup
• Windows XP Restarts Unexpectedly Or Restarts When You Shut Down The Computer
• Increase Windows XP Shutdown Time So That Processes Can Quit Properly
• Resources to Help Troubleshoot Shutdown Problems in Windows XP
• Windows XP Stops Responding (Hangs) During Windows Shutdown
• Computer Hangs During Shutdown or Displays a "Cannot Find Enough Free Resources" Error Message
• Computer Hangs During Shutdown Because of Resource Conflict
• When You Log Off the PC Restarts
System Restore
• Clean a Virus in the _RESTORE Folder. (System Restore Files)
• What is System Restore?
• Which Versions of Windows Have System Restore?
• What is restored by System Restore?
• Create a Restore Point
• Using the System Restore Wizard
• How to Restore
• Enable/Disable System Restore
• Disable System Restore From Monitoring a Drive
• Delete System Restore Points
• Disable the System Restore Group Policy
• How to Gain Access to the System Volume Information Folder
• System Restore Stalls, Get a Blank Screen or Weird Things Happen When You Try To Open It
• Nothing Happens When You Click on System Restore or Help
System Restore Errors
• "System Restore Has Been Turned Off By Group Policy. To Turn Back On, Contact Domain Administrator" Error Message
• The System Restore Service Does Not Work Correctly
• System Restore Stalls, Get a Blank Screen or Weird Things Happen When You Try To Open It
Error System Restore Was Unable To Start Due To A Missing Framedyn.dll.
• System Restore Does Not Create Automatic System Checkpoints
• System Restore "Restore Points" Are Missing or Deleted
• System Restore Tool Displays A Blank Calendar In Windows XP
• Cannot Start A Remote Assistance Session After You Use System Restore
• XP Is Asking Me To Generate A .cab file For System Restore
• Nothing Happens When You Click on System Restore or Help
  • You Get the Following Error Message: marscore.dll not found
• System Restore Errors
Task Bar
Enable/Disable Task Bar
• Task Bar Disappeared Or Is To Small To Use In XP
Toolbars
• Menu Toolbar is Missing
USB

• USB Port quit working with iPod Setting up your iPod
Window File Protection (scannow sfc)
• Using sfc /scannow
Window Explorer
• Window Explorer opens Blank, DO NOT confuse this with IE Explorer
Window Updates
• "Administrators Only" Error Message When You Attempt to Use the Windows Update Site"
• "Windows Update Was Disabled by Your System Administrator" Error Message
• Windows Update Troubleshooting
Built in Tools for Windows XP
• XP Repair Features, What They Are And When To Use Them
• DNScmd.exe
• Diruse.exe
• DHCPloc.exe
• FTOnline.exe
• MSIccu.exe
• Pstat.exe
• Spcheck.exe
• Whoami.exe
• Windiff.exe
• Mplayer2
• IExpress
• Syskey

How To Abort A 60 Second Shutdown So You Can Configure Your Computer After A Virus Attack
• Click the Start button
• Click Run
• Type
  shutdown -a
• That's the "shutdown" command, with the "-a" option, which stands for "abort the pending shutdown"
• Press OK

Features Windows XP Professional Edition Has that Window XP Home Edition Doesn't Have.
• Better support for peer-to-peer networking, plus support for joining a "Windows NT domain."
• The backup utility is installed by default.
• Provides support for multiprocessor systems (2 or 4 CPUs), Dynamic Disks, Fax.
• The Professional edition includes the following components not found in the Home edition:
  • Automated System Recovery (ASR)
  • Boot Configuration Manager
  • Driver Query
  • Group Policy Refresh Utility
  • Multi-lingual User Interface (MUI) add-on
  • NTFS Encryption Utility
  • Offline Files and Folders
  • Open Files
  • Performance Log Manager
  • Remote Desktop
  • Scheduled Tasks Console
  • Security Template Utility
  • Task kill
  • Task list
  • Telnet Administrator

XP Repair Features, What They Are And When To Use Them
• Backup
  • When you need to restore a version of a data file that you saved using Backup.
  • After updating a device driver, you can log on, but the system is unstable.
• Device Driver Roll Back
  • When the only change you want to undo is the updating of a device driver (other than a printer driver). You must be logged on as an administrator.
• Disable the Device
  • When you suspect that one or more specific hardware devices are causing the problem. You must be logged on as an administrator.
• Device Driver Roll Back
  • When the only change you want to undo is the updating of a device driver (other than a printer driver). You must be logged on as an administrator.
• System Restore
  • You recently updated a device driver, and using Device Driver Roll Back did not restore stability to your system. You must be logged on as an administrator to use this feature.
  • After installing a new device, the system is unstable.
  • When you suspect that one or more specific drivers are causing the problem, and disabling or removing the device does not solve the problem. You must be logged on as an administrator.
  • Changes made to your system or application settings are causing your computer to run poorly, and you do not know how to restore the previous settings.
  • When you suspect that any of the following changes have been made: o
    • System or application settings have been changed. This includes changes made through property sheets and changes made to the registry. o
    • Applications have been installed, updated, or removed. o
    • Files other than data files have been added or deleted.
  • If you suspect the problem is due to installing an application, first try removing that application. If the problem persists, use System Restore. You must be logged on as an administrator to use System Restore.
  • After installing an application, the system is unstable or an application is not working properly.
  • Under some circumstances, the computer will prompt you to repair or reinstall an application from a network location or from the original setup media (for example, the program CD). If this happens, follow the directions on the screen to repair your program. If you are not prompted with this information, you can use one of the following features to repair your program:
  • When using Add or Remove Programs did not solve the problem. You must be logged on as an administrator.
  • Operating system does not start (the logon screen does not appear)
• Safe Mode and System Restore
  • If you used Last Known Good and your system is still not working.
• Add or Remove Programs
  • When you suspect that one or more specific programs are causing the problem.
• Last Known Good
  • When you suspect that a change you made to your computer before restarting might be causing the failure.
• Recovery Console
  • If using Last Known Good is unsuccessful, and you cannot start the computer in Safe Mode This method is recommended only if you are an advanced user who can use basic commands to identify and locate problem drivers and files. To use the Recovery Console, restart the computer with the installation CD for the operating system in the CD drive. When prompted during text-mode setup, press R to start the Recovery Console.
• Automated System Recovery
  • After all other attempts at recovery fail, or if you have replaced a damaged system hard drive. You must have previously used Backup to create an Automated System Recovery set.
• Windows Installation compact disc
  • When you cannot start the computer in Safe Mode, neither Last Known Good nor Recovery Console has been successful, and you have no backup to use with Automated System Recovery.

Reset the Automatic Updates System
• Copy the text below in to a new notepad document and save it as resetupdate.cmd.
  net stop "Automatic Updates"
  del /f /s /q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*.*
  net start "Automatic Updates"
  wuauclt.exe /detectnow
• Double click on the file to run it.

Repair Automatic Updates System
• Copy the text below in to a new notepad document and save it as repairupdate.cmd.
  net stop bits
  net stop /s wuauserv
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\atl.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\jscript.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\msxml3.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\softpub.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wuapi.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wuaueng.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wuaueng1.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wucltui.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wups.dll
  %windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe /s %windir%\system32\wuweb.dll
  net start bits
  net start wuauserv
  wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow
• Double click on the file to run it.

Remove and Reinstall of Automatic Updates
• Copy the text below in to a new notepad document and save it as reinstallupdate.cmd.
  net stop bits
  net stop /s wuauserv
  regsvr32 /u wuaueng.dll /s
  del /f /s /q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*.*
  del /f /s /q %windir%\windowsupdate.log
  regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s
  net start bits
  net start wuauserv
  wuauclt.exe /resetauthorization /detectnow
  
• Double click on the file to run it.


• Promts to Install the Same Updates Every Day
  • Method 1
    • Open Computer Managementfrom within Administrative Tools in theControl Panel
    • Find Automatic updates
    • Right click on it and click Stop
    • After it stops, right click again and click Start
  • Method 2
    • Stop the Automatic Updates service using the instructions in Method 1
    • Open Window Explorer - Program Files - Windows Update
    • Note: If you don't see the Windows Update folder turn on Show Hidden Files and Folders
    • Delete all files and folders in this folder except for the folder called V4
    • Open the V4 folder
    • Delete everything in this folder except for iuhist.xml
    • Close the Explorer Window
    • Restart the Automatic Updates service
  • Method 3 (Windows XP only)
    • Stop the Automatic Updates service using the instructions in Method 1 above
    • Open Windows Explorer
    • Open the windows directory
    • Open system32 directory
    • Open catroot2
    • Delete all files and folders
    • Reboot the machine
      Some times you have to rename the catroot2 directory and reboot for the problem to be solved. This folder cannot be deleted but when you rename it and reboot windows will recreate a new folders
  
  Disable the "Automatic Window Updates" Feature in XP
  • Click on Start
  • Open Control Panel
  • Click on Performance and Maintenance Icon
  • Click on System tab
  • Select Automatic Updates Tab
  • Set it to "Turn off automatic updating."
  • Click OK
  
  Fixing the Add/Remove Component
  • If you receive an error message when you try to run the Add/Remove Programs applet this might solve your problem..
    • Go to Start
    • Click on Run
    • Type in
      REGSVR32 APPWIZ.CPL
    • Click Okay
    • Run SFC (System File Checker) with the /scannow command.
      • Go to Start
      • Click on Run
      • Type in
        sfc /scannow
      • You may be asked for the Windows CD
  
  Backup Utility for Win XP& XP Professional Edition
  Windows XP Professional
  • Go to Start
  • Point to All Programs
  • Click on Accessories
  • Click on System Tools
  • Click on Backup
    
    
  Windows XP Home Edition
  • Win XP Home Edition back up utility has to be installed. It is on the Win XP CD.
  • Got to Start
  • Click on Run
  • Type in
    D:\Valueadd\msft\ntbackup
  • where D: is the letter of your CD drive.
    OR
    
  • If you do not have a install CD and the files are on D drive type in:
    D:\Valueadd\msft\ntbackup
  • This will launch the Windows Backup Utility Installation Wizard. When it is finished, click "Finish."
  
  To use the back up program
  • Go to Start
  • Point to All Programs
  • Click on Accessories
  • Click on System Tools
  • Click on Backup
  • The Backup Utility will start.
  NOTE: You can try to use this Wizard with the Home Edition of XP, the results will be unpredictable. The disks made with the Wizard in XP Home are unreliable. Microsoft acknowledges this in Knowledge Base Article Q302700.
  
  Boot Disk
  • Create a boot disk for Win XP
    • In XP open Windows Explorer and put a blank floppy in the drive.
    • Right click on the A drive and choose format.
    • Tick the box under format Options to create a MS-DOS startup disk.
    • Then click start.
    • The disk created has command.com and is to all intents and purposes a proper DOS boot disk that will work with XP
  
  Download IE 6 to a disk and install later.
  Will not work with 2k or XP Click here on how to download with 2k and XP
  • Download the setup file.
  • Once it is downloaded click it.
  • You will then get the agreement window and then the window asking how you want to install, (min., custom), what ever,
  • Click on the advanced button and you have the option of what to download and where to save it.
  
  DNS error; Could not find server or Cannot connect to server.
  
  • Remove modem
  • Remove modem software
  • Reboot
  • Install Modem software (with Modem Out)
  • Shut down and install modem
  • Reboot
  
  Explorer opens blank in XP
  • Check the settings?
    • Open Explorer
    • Click on the Tools menu
    • Select Folder Options.
    • Set it to open each Folder in the same window
    • Click on the View Tab
    • View all files and Not hide file extensions for known files types
  • Did you download and install SP 1-3?.
  • Here's a link to Repairing IE.
    http://support.microsoft.com/defaul…b;en-us;Q318378
  • Here's a command line to use to reinstall IE if you have not upgraded.
    • Go to Start
    • Click on Run
    • Type in or copy and paste in:
      rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\inf\ie.inf
  
  Internet Explorer opens with a blank page instead of web site
  Author: Yuval Sinay MVP
  This article came from the MS Knowledge Base but they disclaim any or all problems it could cause you. This basically means that they think this will work and they themselves do not have another solution for this problem so this is the best that is available unless you reinstall IE Explorer. The information in this article applies to:
  • XP Professional
  • XP Home Edition
  • XP Media CEnter Edition
  • XP Professional
  • XP Home Edition SP 1
  • XP Tablet PC Edition
  • Symptom
    • When you try to connect to web site by using Internet Explorer 6 or Internet Explorer 6 with Service Pack 1 - it may open with blank page, instead of web site.
  • Solution
    • Register the following files; if you do not know how to register them, Here are the instructions.
      • Go to Start
      • Run
      • Register the following dll's by using regsvr32 command:
        • regsvr32 urlmon.dll?
        • regsvr32 actxprxy.dll
        • regsvr32 scrrun.dll?
        • regsvr32 msxml.dll?
        • regsvr32 mshtml.dll?
        • regsvr32 shdocvw.dll?
        • regsvr32 browseui.dll
        • regsvr32 msjava.dll?
    • Note: Please try first to register the urlmon.dll and actxprxy.dll and restart Internet Explorer. These two may solve the problem without doing the rest.
    • Restart the Internet Explorer.
  
  How to use the Privacy setting in IE Explorer 6
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Click on Tools
  • Click on Internet Options
  • Open it to the Privacy tab
    
    
    
    
  • Click Edit
    
    
    
    
  • In the window next to Block type a w
    
    
    
    
  • A drop-down list will appear, click on the ones that you find in the cookies folders in C:\windows\cookies.
  • Then click on Block.
  • Click OK
  • Set the slider to ¾ of the way to the top as I have in picture 1 above.
  • Then as you check and find a cookie add it to the blocked list.
  • If there is a site you visit often or sign into and don't want to continue to have to sign in instead of blocking the web site allow it.
  • Some Cookies you have to open and get the web address out of them.
  • To do this right click with the shift key held down and right click on the file.
  • Click open with notepad.
  • Inside you will find the cookie's web address. Some use several web addresses.
  • IF you see that the one you have in Privacy isn't stopping a cookie this will be why.
  • In a while you won't be having these pest and also will have an extra 15 Megs of space on your computer, it will be clean, and you won't have to run any special programs except Ad-aware that catches programs that are added to the registry that you can't see.
  
  Safely Remove Hardware Icon.
  • If you have an USB device attached to your system, you will notice an icon in the Notification area, which, when clicked will give you the option to Stop your hardware, before you unplug it.
  • It is possible that you never unplug this hardware. So how do you get rid of the icon?
    • The only way is to right-click the notification area, and selecting Properties.
    • Under the Notification area heading, click Customize.
    • Find the Safely Remove Hardware icon and select Always hide in the Behavior column next to it and then click OK and Apply.
  
  Print Screen:
  • In DOS, pressing the Print Screen Key sends the contents of your screen (text only) directly to the printer (assuming you have a printer that works in DOS)
  • In Windows, Print Screen sends an image of your screen to the Clipboard, where it can be pasted into any imaging program and printed from there. ALT+ Print Screen does the same for the active window.
  • With the Image you want to capture or copy and paste in another program visible on the desktop press Print Screen
  • You will not see anything happen but windows will have copied the image to the Office Clip Board.
  • Open Word or program that works with the Office Clipboard
  • Place the cursor where you want the image to appear.
  • Click on Edit on the toolbar
  • Click paste
  • The Office Clipboard will paste it to the document or in the program you are trying to paste it in. This also works with most Picture Programs.
  
  Links on Links Toolbar do not work.
  
  • Open I E Explorer
  • Click on Tools
  • Click on Internet Options
  • Click on the Programs tab
  • Click the "Reset Web Settings" option.
  
  Using Program Compatibility Wizard
  • Windows XP includes a "Compatibility Mode" in which you can "fool" programs into thinking they are running in an older Windows version.
  • If you are having problems with a program that used to work in your previous version of Windows, you should try the Program Compatibility Wizard included in Windows XP to get your program to function properly.
  • You start the Program Compatibility Wizard as follows:
    • Click Start
    • Point to All Programs
    • Accessories
    • Program Compatibility Wizard
    • When you start the wizard, the first options you are presented with is how you want to locate the program that you would like to run in compatibility mode. You can choose from:
      • Choose from a list of programs
      • Use the program in the CD-ROM drive
      • Locate the program manually
    • Note: If you choose Use the program in the CD-ROM drive, your changes will not remain in effect after you close the program. Once you have selected the program you want to choose in which "mode" you want to run it:
      • Windows 95
      • Windows NT 4.0
      • Windows 98 / Me
      • Windows 2000
      • Do not apply a compatibility mode
    • On the next screen, you can select some display settings such as:
      • 256 colors
      • 640 x 480 screen resolution
      • Disable visual themes
    • In most cases you will not need to use any of these settings. However if the program you are trying to run a certain game or an educational program, you may have to apply some (or all) of these settings. T
    • he next option (Choose whether you want to simulate administrative privileges) also applies mostly to games & educational software.
    • When you receive the Did the program work correctly? message (at this time the program will (attempt) to start), select one of the following options, and then click Next:
      • Yes, set this program to always use these compatibility settings
      • No, try different compatibility settings
      • No, I am finished trying compatibility settings
    • If you click Yes, set this program to always use these compatibility settings or No, I am finished trying compatibility settings, pressing Next will bring you to a new screen with the following message:
      Program Compatibility Data
    • Microsoft has created temporary files that contain information about the settings you selected and whether the problems were fixed. Sending this information to Microsoft will help us improve program compatibility.
    • Would you like to send this information to Microsoft?
      • Yes
      • No
    • The information will be treated anonymously and confidentially per our data collection policy on the Web.
    • To see the temporary files that would be sent you can click the link See the temporary files that would be sent which will bring up another window with links to the files generated. You can click those links, and read which info is being sent to Microsoft.
    • The last screen gives you the information that you have adjusted the compatibility settings, and gives you the advice that to adjust or remove, you should run the wizard again.
  
  Using Remote Desktop in Windows XP
  • Overview
    • Enabling Remote Desktop in Windows XP Professional will give you the ability to access your desktop from a remote location. You can access your applications, files and network resources as if you where sitting behind your computer. Remote Desktop is an evolution of the Terminal Services functionality formerly available only in the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server family of operating systems. Remote Desktop is not available in Windows XP Home Edition.
    
    How to enable Remote Desktop
    • When you install Windows XP Professional, Remote Desktop is disabled by default.
      • Make sure you are logged in as an Administrator
      • Click Start
      • Right-click My Computer
      • Then click Properties
      • In System Properties
      • Select the Remote tab
      • Select the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer check box
    • To enable remote access on your Windows XP computer, you need to be a member of the Administrators group or of the Remote Desktop Users group. To add users to the Remote Desktop Users group:
      • Make sure you are logged in as an Administrator
      • Click Start
      • Right-click My Computer
      • Click Properties
      • In System Properties, select the Remote tab
      • Click the Select Remote Users button
      • In the Remote Desktop Users dialog box click Add
      • In the Select Users dialog box, type the user name(s) you want to add, or click the Advanced button, and click Find Now.
        • This will find all the users on your system.
        • You can also change the locations to find users on the network.
      • After adding the user(s), click OK
        
      • The names of the selected users appear in the Remote Desktop Users dialog box.
        
    
    Installing Client Software
    • To connect to a system running the Remote Desktop, you need to set up a Remote Desktop client. You will need to install a Remote Desktop Connection or Terminal Services Client. A requirement is that your computer must be able to connect to the remote computer by means of a network connection, dial-up, or Internet connection.
    • Below are a list of client software versions for various operating systems:
      
    • To install Remote Desktop Connection on computers running Windows 95 / 98 / NT 4.0 / 2000 Server / 2000 Professional:
      • Insert the Windows XP Professional operating system CD into your CD-ROM drive
      • In the Setup menu
      • Click Perform Additional Tasks
      • Click Set up Remote Desktop Connection
      • In the Remote Desktop Connection-InstallShield Wizard, follow instructions until installation is complete
        
    
    Establishing a Remote Desktop Session
    • After installing the appropriate client software on the client computer, you can connect to the remote computer:
      • Click Start
      • Point to All Programs
      • Point to Accessories
      • Click Communications
      • Click Remote Desktop Connection
      • In the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, in the Computer box, type the name or IP address of a computer running Windows XP Professional for which you have Remote Desktop permissions
      • Click Connect
      • In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type your user name, password, and domain (if required
      • Then click OK
    • You can pre-configure your Remote Desktop sessions by pressing the Options button in the Remote Desktop Connection.
      • Here you can:
        • Pre-configure your settings and click the Save As button.
        • Enter a filename and click Save.
        • Each time you want to open that particular session, click
          • Open
          • double-click the filename.
        • Adjust the display size of the Remote Desktop session to fit your display configuration.
          • On the Display tab, move the Remote desktop size slider. You can also select the color depth.
        • Adjust other actions, such as sound from the remote computer, keyboard functions, and local devices.
        • Adjust the performance from the Experience tab, where you can adjust some windows effects of the Remote Connection.
      • Note: Terminal Services clients use TCP port 3389 to communicate with the remote computer, so you must ensure that this port is not blocked by a firewall.
    
    Security in Remote Desktop
    • Set access Terminal Services Group Policy
      • Click Start
      • Click Run
      • Type mmc in the Open: box
      • Click OK
      • On the File menu
      • Click Add/Remove Snap-in
      • In the Add/Remove Snap-in dialog box
      • Click Add
      • In the Add Standalone Snap-in dialog box
      • Click Group Policy
      • Click Add
      • Click Finish
      • Click Close
      • Click OK
      • In the Console Root pane, double-click Computer Configuration
      • Click Administrative Templates
      • Click Windows Components
      • Click Terminal Services
      • The Always prompt client for password upon connection policy is under Encryption and Security
    • You can further enhance security by using the settings under Client/Server data redirection here you can disable:
      • Drive redirection
      • LPT port redirection
      • COM port redirection
      • Client printer redirection
      • Smart card device redirection
      • Clipboard redirection
      • Audio redirection
  
  Stop 0x50" Error Message While Installing Windows
  Error Message
  • While you are installing the Windows operating system, your computer may stop responding (hang) while displaying the following error message on a blue screen:
    STOP: 0x00000050
    PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
  • This error message may be caused by faulty memory (RAM) in your computer.
  Solution
  • The faulty RAM could be located in any of several areas, including the secondary RAM cache, the video RAM, or the computer's main memory. To determine where the faulty RAM is located, use the following steps:
    • Disable all caching on your computer, including the CPU cache and L2 cache, in the computer's CMOS settings. For information about how to use your computer's CMOS configuration tool, please refer to your computer's documentation.
      
      If you can successfully install Windows after disabling all caching, try re-enabling each cache, one at a time, to determine the area in which the faulty RAM is located. If you still receive the error message, continue to the next step.
    • Temporarily replace your video adapter. If you can install Windows after replacing the video adapter, the video adapter you replaced is faulty.
    • Temporarily replace the main memory installed in your computer. If the RAM in your computer consists of multiple SIMM modules, you may be able to swap SIMM modules to determine which has the faulty memory.
  
  Speed Up the Boot Menu
  • Select Start
  • Control Panel
  • System
  • Advanced tab.
  • Click the Startup and Recovery Settings button.
  • In the System startup portion you can adjust the time used to display the bootmenu.
  
  Tips and Tricks for Windows XP
  Make all programs installed visible in the Add/Remove window.
  • To add all the programs to the add/remove window that should be there:
    • First you have to set the computer to show all files and extensions
      • Open any folder
      • Click on Tools on the top toolbar
      • In the dropdown menu click Folder Options
      • In the window that opens, click the View tab
      • Remove all checks that hide files and folders
      • Put checks in the ones to show all files, folders, and extensions
      • Close window
    • Go to start
    • Click Search (Find)
    • Type in
      • sysoc.inf
    • Then press the find button.
    • When you find the sysoc.inf file double click on it to open it.
    • The entries that include the text "hide" or "HIDE" at the end of them will not show up in Add/Remove Windows Components by default.
    • To fix this, go through the list and everywhere you see "hide" or "HIDE" replace them with a comma (,).
    • Then, save the file.
    • Then open the Add/Remove Window and all the programs will show.
  
  Remove MS Messenger from running in the background.
  Try one of the following, for some reasons what works on one does NOT work on other computers.
  • Method #1
    • Go to Start
    • Click Run
    • Type in or copy and paste:
      RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
    • Click Okay
  • Method #2
    • Click Start
    • Click Run
    • Type in
      regedit
    • When the registry edit window opens Scroll down to the following keys
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client
    • Create a new DWORD value for each of the optional restrictions from the list below
    • Set the value to "1" to enable the restriction or "0" to disable it
      • DWORD=PreventAutoRun - Do not automatically start Messenger set to "1"
      • DWORD=PreventRun - Do not allow Messenger to run set to "1"
    • Restart Messenger for the changes to take effect
  
  Remove the Shared Documents folders from My Computer.
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
    Windows\CurrentVersion\ Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\DelegateFolders
  • You'll see a sub-key named
    {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}
  • Delete this sub-key.
  • Close registry window and the Shared Documents Folder will be gone.
  
  Remove the "Links" Folder in Favorites
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
  • In the right pane find
  • Right click and press the Delete key
  • Close the registry edit window.
  
  Remove Common Groups from the Start Menu
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
  • Create a DWORD called NoCommonGroups
    • Set the value to 1 to hide them
    • 0 to display them
  
  Clear Cached Command Lines from the Run Menu
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
  • Delete the values you want to remove, or remove all the entries to clear the list completely.
  
  Remove Frequent Programs List from the Start Menu
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following keys.
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
      CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
  • You can create the key if it does not already exist.
  • Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value
  • Called 'NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList'
  • Edit the value according to the settings below.
  • Value Name: NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList
  • Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
    • Value Data: (0 = default, 1 = enable restriction)
    • Note: This setting only applies to the Windows XP Start Menu, not the Classic Start Menu.
  • Close the registry edit window.
  
  Remove Pinned Programs List from the Start Menu
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following keys.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
  • Value Name: NoStartMenuPinnedList
  • Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
    • Value Data: (0 = default, 1= enable restriction)
  • If the DWORD value is not listed create a new DWORD value, called 'NoStartMenuPinnedList' and edit the value according to the settings above.
    • Note: This setting only applies to the Windows XP Start Menu, not the Classic Start Menu.
  • Close the registry edit window.
  
  Remove Username from the Start Menu
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following keys.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
  • Value Name: NoUserNameInStartMenu
  • Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
    • Value Data: (0 = display username, 1 = hide username)
  • If the DWORD value is not listed create a new DWORD value called 'NoUserNameInStartMenu' and change the value to the settings above.
  • Close the registry edit window.
  
  Remove "All Programs" Button from the Start Menu
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following keys.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
  • Value Name: NoStartMenuMorePrograms Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
    • Value Data: (0 = default, 1 = disable button)
  • If the DWORD value is not listed create a new DWORD value called 'NoStartMenuMorePrograms' and change the value according to the settings above.
  • Close the registry edit window.
  
  Speed Up Browsing (Windows Explorer and IE)
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\
    RemoteComputer\NameSpace
  • In the right pane find: {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF} Value and delete it.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Control the Internet Explorer Script Debugger
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
  • Value Name: Disable Script Debugger Data Type: REG_SZ String Value
  • Value Data: yes or no.
  • If the DWORD value is not listed create a new DWORD value, called "Disable Script Debugger" and set it to either "yes" to disable the debugger or "no" to enable it.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Control Internet Explorer Error Reporting
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.
  • Value Name: IEWatsonDisabled, IEWatsonEnabled
  • Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value).
  • Create another DWORD value called "IEWatsonDisabled"
  • Set the value to "1".
  • Create another DWORD value called "IEWatsonEnabled"
  • Set the value to "0".
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Unload DLL's
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
    Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AlwaysUnloadDll
  • Set the Value to 0 or delete, "AlwaysUnloadDll".
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Stop Error Messages When Booting
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
    Control\Windows.
  • Value Name: NoPopupsOnBoot
  • Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
  • Value Data: (1 = disable messages).
  • Create a REG_DWORD value of 'NoPopupsOnBoot' in the key above (if it doesn't already exist).
  • To disable pop-up messages from appearing set the value to '1' .
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable Windows XP Startup Screen
  • Click Start
  • Right-click on My Computer
  • From the menu choose Properties
  • From System Properties, select the Advanced tab
  • Press the Settings button under the Startup and Recovery heading
  • Click the Edit button and locate the line that loads Windows XP
  • At the end of that line add /sos, so it would look like this:
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP Professional"
    /fastdetect /SOS
  • Save your changes, and press OK twice to close the System Properties
  • Now when you start Windows, you will see some system messages, instead of the Windows XP logo.
  
  Disable Unnecessary Programs From Startup that run in the background
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following keys.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Runonce
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\RunServices
  • In the right pane right click on the name of any program you do not want to run in the background and delete it.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Enable or Disable Boot Defrag
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
    DfrgBootOptimizeFunction
  • Right click and modify to change value to Y to enable, N to disable.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable Tool Tips
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
  • Edit the "ShowInfoTip" and set the Value to 0. To restore set the Value to 1.
  • If it is not present create a DWORD value and set the value to 0.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable the Passport Balloon
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
    MessengerService.
  • In the right pane, right click on "PassportBalloon"
  • Change to value to 0A.
  • After you edit it, it should read     0A 00 00 00 .
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable Balloon Tips
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
  • Edit "EnableBalloonTips" and set the Value to 0.
  • To restore set the Value to 1.
  • If it is not present create a DWORD value and set the values to the above.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable Media Player Update Message
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
    MediaPlayer\PlayerUpgrade.
  • Value Name: AskMeAgain
  • Data Type: REG_SZ String Value
  • Value Data: "yes" or "no".
  • If it does not exist create a new String value called 'AskMeAgain'
  • Edit the value to the settings above.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable Service Control Applet Services
  • Services are important parts of the windows operating system.
  • DO NOT disable items you don't understand. But an item such as record CD-R would be okay to disable if you don't use this service
  • This is an area where common sense applies so use your judgment wisely.
  • The Services control applet can be launched by running SERVICES.MSC from the Run command line.
    • Go to Start
    • Click Run
    • type in
      • Services.msc
    • Click Okay
  • Each entry in the service windows contains a description of the service it performs by clicking on the service name
  • The Services computer-management console will open and includes a description of all services so that you can know ahead of time whether a particular service is one you want to turn off.
  • You can also pause the service so that you can test your machine and see whether that service is needed.
  • After you run the console, click the Extended tab.
  • This view will show you a description of each service in the left pane when you highlight the service.
  • The Startup Type column shows you which services launch on startup with Automatic in that field.
  • Click that column to sort together all the services that automatically launch on startup
  • Then highlight each of those services and read the descriptions.
  • When you find a service you want to disable, right-click it and choose Properties.
  • In the Properties dialog box that appears, choose Manual from the Startup Type drop-down list.
  • The service won't start automatically from now on, but you can start it manually via the console.
  • If you want the service disabled so that it can't be run, choose Disabled.
  • To test the results, turn off any services that you don't want to run by clicking Stop the Service in the left pane, or by right-clicking the service and choosing Stop.
  • User account (Don't change this unless you know what you are doing)
  • A service can be enable or disabled to start at startup.
  
  Disable Error Reporting
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
    PCHealth\ErrorReporting.
  • Edit the value to: DoReport
    • 1 = Send Reports
    • 0 = Don't Send
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable Search Assistant
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState.
  • In the right pane, edit the string value called: Use Search Asst set the value to: no
  • If no string value is present create a new one and set the values as above.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable the Thumbnail Cache
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
  • Value Name: DisableThumbnailCache
  • Data Type: REG_DWORD DWORD Value
  • Value Data:
    • 0 = enabled
    • 1 = disable cache
  • If the value does not exist create a new DWORD value called 'DisableThumbnailCache'
  • Edit the value to the settings above.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Disable Desktop Cleanup Wizard
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click OK
  • When the edit registry window opens edit the following key.
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\ Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz.
  • Value Name: NoRun
  • Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value
  • Value Data:
    • 0 = enabled
    • 1= disable wizard
  • If the value does not exist create a new DWORD value called 'NoRun'
  • Edit the value to the settings above.
  • Close the Registry Edit Window.
  
  Using Check Disk.
  • In the following command the /R stand for fix bad clusters on the hard drive and all errors it finds, this is the best way to use Check Disk and it does take some time to run this program depending on your computer.
  • The two most common commands for chkdsk or /R and /F
    • /R is repair bad clusters on the hard drive and fixes all errors on the drive itself.
    • /F just repairs errors on the drive but does not repair errors to the hard drive.
    • To run Chkdsk to fix bad clusters and to repair errors on the C volume, type: chkdsk c: /r is the drive you have the outlook program on, usually C: but it could be D: if you have multiple operating systems
      • Go to Start
      • Click Run
      • Type in the box
        CMD
      • Press Enter Key
      • A dos window will open
      • Type
        chkdsk c: /r (there is a space between the chkdsk and the c: and again between the c: and the Forward Slash ( / ))
      • Press the Enter Key
      • The computer will run some checks and a message will appear saying it CAN'T fix the system files until you reboot
      • Press the "Y" key
      • Press the Enter key so Windows run the CheckDisk program at the next bootup
    OR
    • Click on My Computer
    • Click the local drive you want to check.
    • Click Properties on the File menu.
    • Click Check Now on the Tools tab, under Error-checking,.
    • Select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box Check disk options.
      • All files must be closed for this process to run. If the volume is currently in use, a message box will appear prompting you to indicate whether or not you want to reschedule the disk checking for the next time you restart your system. Then, the next time you restart your system, disk checking will run. Your volume will not be available to perform other tasks while this process is running.
  
  Window File Protection (SFC /scannow)
  • Windows XP has the ability to protect itself from system instability caused by 3rd party software overwriting important system files. This used to be (and still is in fact), a problem with Windows 95 and Windows 98.
  • With the introduction of Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft made a real effort to stop this from happening. Now in Windows XP we have a much more refined protection of these important files…. This system is called:
    Windows File Protection
  • By default, Windows File Protection is always enabled and allows Windows digitally signed files to replace existing files safely. Currently, signed files are distributed through:
    • Windows Service Packs
    • Hotfix distributions
    • Operating system upgrades
    • Windows Update
    • Windows Device Manager
  • If you introduce a file replacement in any other way, Windows File protection will overwrite your file!
  • Click on the Start Button
  • Click on Run and type in:
    • sfc /scannow
  • Click Okay
  • The Windows File Protection program will begin to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem.
  • You should see the following image as to the scan progress.
    
    
    
    
  • Now you can have a problem doing this.
  • If following dialog box appears try the following:
    
    
    
    
  • Go to the Start Button
  • Click on Run
  • Type in
    • regedit
  • Click Okay
  • The registry edit window will open.
  • Scroll down to the following key.
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
  • Look for the following entry in the right pane.
    • SourcePath
  • It should have a path pointing to your CD-ROM drive, and that is why it is asking for the XP CD. Change the path to:
    • C:\Windows
  • Double click the SourcePatch setting and a new box will pop up allowing you to make the change.
  • Next insert the XP CD and locate the following folder on your XP CD I386
  • Copy and paste or drag and drop this folder to C:\ Windows
  • Reboot and run scannow sfc
  
  System32 folder opens on boot up
  • Click Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    Msconfig
  • Click OK
  • Click on the startup tab
  • Uncheck /l:eng
  • Click Apply
  • Close
  • Restart
  
  XP slow at shutting down or will not shut down.
  • If you have Microsoft Fax Services installed, uninstall it and the PC will shut down properly.
  
  XP command line tools
  
  • To use these tools
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run Type in the command line listed below.
  • The first one would be DNScmd.exe then click okay.
  • You should definitely also check out the new suite of tools that accompany XP via the CD. Additional tools are installed from \support\tools\setup.exe. These tools provide some extremely useful functionality such as:
    • DNScmd.exe
      Displays and changes the properties of DNS servers, zones, and resource records
    • Diruse.exe
      Displays directory size information, including compression information for NTFS volumes. You can use DirUse to determine the actual usage of space for compressed files and directories
    • DHCPloc.exe
      Displays the DHCP servers active on the subnet. If it detects any unauthorized DHCP servers, it beeps and sends out alert messages
    • FTOnline.exe
      Allows an administrator to mount and recover files from a fault tolerant disk created in a previous version of Windows
    • MSIccu.exe
      Deletes the configuration data that Windows Installer maintains for a product that it installed, including directories, files, registry subkeys, and registry entries. You can use Msiccu to remove the remnants of a corrupted Windows Installer installation that prevents you from installing a product correctly.
    • Pstat.exe
      Lists all running processes and threads and displays their status
    • Spcheck.exe
      Used by administrators to determine which service pack is installed on a Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows NT 4.0 system.
    • Whoami.exe
      Display some or all information in the current access token.
    • Windiff.exe
      Compares directories or files showing the results graphically.
    • If you prefer a more "streamlined" application than the Media Player 8.0
      Try Start-Run-Mplayer2. This will launch good ol' uncomplicated Media Player version 6.4.
    • Start-Run-IExpress
      Launches a program of the same name that will help you create program installer .exe packages or self-extracting .exe files, complete with complete with disclaimers, licensing agreement windows, and automatic program install routines driven by .inf files.
    • Start-Run-Syskey
      You should check out Q Article 143473 before using Syskey. Syskey allows you to encrypt the password encryption key. The password encryption key protects the user account passwords. Once generated, the Syskey can be stored either on the local drive, or diskette. If you choose diskette, thereafter, you'll need to provide the diskette as part of the logon process. This is a definite security enhancement. The obvious catch, if you lose the diskette, and have no backup, you are out of luck. You will not be able to get back to your desktop, or your data, without going through elaborate gyrations. Taking an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup prior to using Syskey would be a wise precaution. Mechanically, Syskey is invoked by selecting.
  
  Search does not work in 2K or XP
  
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
    • C:\windows\inf\ srchasst.inf
  • Right click on it and choose install.
    You may need your install CD. If you use a Restore disk, Windows will not ask you for a CD.
  • Then go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Copy and paste the following
    • regsvr32 C:\WINDOWS\srchasst\srchui.dll
    If Windows is not installed on C:, change C: to the drive letter windows is installed on first.
  • Click okay to execute the command.
  
  Windows Update Was Disabled by Your System Administrator
  • Error Message
    • Your organization has decided to provide software updates internally rather than through Windows Update. To download updates for your Windows computer, please see your Network Administrator.
      -or-
      
    • Windows Update was disabled by your System Administrator.
  • Solution
    
    • Click Start
    • Click Run
    • Type in or copy and paste
      regedit
    • Click Edit in the Edit Registry window
    • Click Find
    • Copy and paste each of the following key and delete all the values except Default in the right pane under each of the following registry keys in the , and then restart your computer:
      
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
        Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
        Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\LocalURL
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
        Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\RemoteURL
    • Note
      You may not find all the registry keys listed here.
  
  Enable/Disable Task Bar
  • To enable the toolbar go to Start
  • Click on Control Panel
  • Click on Appearance and Themes
  • Click on Taskbar and Start Menu
  • Select or unselect the Show Quick Launch check box depending if you want to enable it or disable it.

Why does my parallel port (LPT) printer lockup or refuse to print in Windows® XP on my Dell™ Dimension™ 8100 computer?
• Problem
  • When printing in Windows XP on a Dimension 8100 computer with a BIOS revision less than XP 2, printers attached to the parallel port may not function correctly. Possible symptoms may include the printer not being detected or nothing printing when a document is printed in Windows XP
• Solution
  • Download and Install the Latest System BIOS
  • Note:
    • For more information on obtaining the latest BIOS version for your computer, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: FA1033387 "How can I get the latest basic input/output system (BIOS), or System Setup, file and instructions on how to flash, or update, the BIOS?"
  • Verify the Parallel Port Mode Settings in the System Setup
    • If you continue to have problems, you should verify that your parallel port mode in the System Setup is set to ECP mode.
    • Note:
      • For more information on configuring the parallel port mode for your computer, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: TT1045712 "What are the recommended interfaces and System Setup (BIOS) settings for some printers and scanners?"
  • Configure the Windows XP Port Settings
    • If the printer still does not function, you should adjust the Windows XP parallel port settings.
      • Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then left-click Manage.
      • In the left pane, click Device Manager.
      • In the right pane, scroll down to locate Ports (COM & LPT).
      • Click the plus (+) sign next to Ports (COM & LPT).
      • Double-click the ECP Printer Port.
      • Click the Port Settings tab.
      • Click Use any interrupt assigned to the port.
      • Click to check Enable legacy Plug and Play detection.
      • Verify that LPT1 is selected in the LPT Port Number drop-down box.
      • Click OK.
      • The computer redetects the printers attached to the printer ports.
  • Modify the Parallel Port Mode Settings in the System Setup
    • If you continue to have problems, you should change the parallel port mode setting in the System Setup to either EPP or PS2.
  • Troubleshoot the Parallel Port
  • If you continue to experience problems, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: TT1011065 "Why did my printer stop working and how do I troubleshoot the printer and the parallel port (LPT) on my Dell™ computer?"

Hardware Problems
• Hardware problems are hard to isolate and the error messages don't seem to help much. Personally I think if you were the one who came up with the error messages you'd have a problem knowing what is wrong.
• The simplest way I have found to solve these problems is the following.
  • Check Device Manager for conflicts and check for the latest drivers.
  • XP has a problem with certain drivers it seems so check all of the drivers for the latest updates.
  • This includes the bios.
    • When upgrading to Win XP from an earlier version of windows XP has a problem with some of the BIOS software so check for a BIOS upgrade for the mother board.
  • Run Direct X
    • Go to Start
    • Click on Run
    • Type in
      DxDiag
    • Click okay
    • Let the program run and see if it finds anything.
  • IF you still are having the problems pull the case cover and check to be sure all fans are working.
  • If they are unplug all hardware except the hard drive, video card.
  • Remove all extra chips of memory, leave only one stick in.
  • Reboot, did this solve the problem.
  • If so then it is one of the devices you unhooked.
  • IF not then it is the mother board, processor, the one stick of memory you left in or the video card.
  • Try replacing the memory chip, then the video card drivers first then the card or another chip of memory.
  • If this doesn't help most likely you will have to take it to a shop for repairs
  • If unplugging the devices did stop the error message then you know that it is one of the pieces of hardware you unplugged.
  • Put back in one piece at a time and reboot until the problem starts again.
  • Once it does then you know that the last one connected is the cause of the problem.
    • Once you know this you can check the configuration to be sure it is configured correctly.
    • Check with the manufacture for a solution
    • Replace it
  • If none of the above solves the problem most likely you will have to take it into a shop for repairs. I am not into hardware problems but MS seems their error codes will help but all they have done so far is caused more confusion and problems. IF the above doesn't help you then without having the computer there is not much more I can do for you.
  • Do a search for sites that deal with hard ware problems and see if they can help you.
  
  
"Windows Update Was Disabled by Your System Administrator" Error Message
Errors
• Windows Update is not on the Start menu.
  • Note: On a Windows XP-based computer or a Windows Server 2003-based computer, Windows Update will not appear on the Start menu unless you are using the Classic Start menu.
• When you click Windows Update on the Start menu, you receive the following error message:
  Error
  Windows Update was disabled by your system administrator.
• Windows Update is not on the Tools menu in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
• When you access the Windows Update Web site, you receive the following error message:
  Access Denied
  Network policy settings prevent you from using Windows Update to download and install updates on your computer.
  If you believe you have received this message in error, please check with your system administrator.
• On a Windows XP-based computer or a Windows Server 2003-based computer, the Automatic Updates tab does not appear in System Properties
• On a Windows 2000-based computer, when you click Automatic Updates in Control Panel, the Automatic Updates settings are not available, and you receive the following message:
  The Windows Update Service is unavailable.
• After you configure Automatic Updates, you are not notified about critical updates, and you do not receive critical updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site.
• Device Manager does not automatically install driver updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site.
Solution
• Give users interactive access to Windows Update, follow these steps:
  • Start the Group Policy Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in
  • Expand User Configuration
  • Expand Administrative Templates
  • Click Start Menu and Taskbar.
  • In the right pane, right-click Disable and remove links to Windows Update
  • Click Properties
  • Click to select Disabled
  • Click Apply
  • Click OK
• To give the system access to Windows Update for automatic updates, follow these steps: Start the Group Policy MMC snap-in.
  • Expand User Configuration Expand Administrative Templates Expand Windows Components Click Windows Update In the right pane, right-click Remove access to use all Windows Update features Click Properties Click to select Disabled Click Apply Click OK
• Changing Group Policy does not turn on the Windows Update feature, edit the registry to manually remove the DisableWindowsUpdateAccess or NoWindowsUpdate DWORD values from the appropriate registry keys:
  • Click Start
  • Click Run
  • In the Open box type
    regedit
  • Click OK
  • Find the following key
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion
    \Policies
  • If the Windows Update key exists, click Windows Update
  • In the right pane, if DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD value exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess click Delete
  • Find the following key
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    \Policies
  • If the Explorer key exists, click Explorer
  • In the right pane, if DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess, click Delete
  • In the right pane, if a NoWindowsUpdate DWORD value exists, right-click NoWindowsUpdate, click Delete
  • Find the following key
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    \Policies
  • If the Explorer key exists, click Explorer.
  • In the right pane, if DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess, click Delete
  • In the right pane, if a NoWindowsUpdate DWORD value exists, right-click NoWindowsUpdate,click Delete
  • Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer
  • In the right pane, right-click Disable and remove links to Windows Update
  • Click Properties
  • Click to select Disabled
  • Click Apply
  • Click OK
• To give the system access to Windows Update for automatic updates, follow these steps: Start the Group Policy MMC snap-in Expand User Configuration Expand Administrative Templates Expand Windows Components Click Windows Update In the right pane, right-click Remove access to use all Windows Update features Click Properties Click to select Disabled Click Apply Click OK
• Changing Group Policy does not turn on the Windows Update feature, edit the registry to manually remove the DisableWindowsUpdateAccess or NoWindowsUpdate DWORD values from the appropriate registry keys:
  • Click Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in the Open box
    regedit
  • Click OK
  • Find the following key
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion
    \Policies
  • If the Windows Update key exists, click Windows Update.
  • In the right pane, if DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD value exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess, click Delete
  • Find the following key
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    \Policies
  • If the Explorer key exists, click Explorer.
  • In the right pane, if DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess, click Delete
  • In the right pane, if a NoWindowsUpdate DWORD value exists, right-click NoWindowsUpdate, click Delete
  • Find the following key
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    \Policies
  • If the Explorer key exists, click Explorer.
  • In the right pane, if DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess, click Delete
  • In the right pane, if a NoWindowsUpdate DWORD value exists, right-click NoWindowsUpdate, click Delete
  • Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer

Error Message When You Install an HP Officejet T45 or T65 Printer
Error Message
• When you try to install a Hewlett-Packard (HP) Officejet T45 or T65 All-in-One series printer, you may receive the following error message:
  Communication error: Unsupported device.
Solution
• If ZoneAlarm is active on the system, disable it or remove it.
  • Click Start
  • Click Run and type in
    msconfig
  • Click OK
  • In the System Configuration Utility, click the Services tab
  • Click to clear the True Vector Basic Login and the True Vector Internet Monitoring check boxes
  • Click the Startup tab
  • Click to clear the check box next to any ZoneAlarm startup item
  • Close the System Configuration Utility
  • You may reinstall or enable ZoneAlarm after the Officejet printer is successfully installed.
• Click Start
• Click Printers and Faxes
• Select all the instances of the HP Officejet T45 or T65 printer
• Click Delete key
• Click Yes to confirm that you want to delete the printer.
• Click Start
• Right-click My Computer
• Click Properties
• Click the Hardware tab
• Click Device Manager
• In Device Manager, right-click every IEEE device
• Click Uninstall
• Click No when you are prompted to restart the computer
• Double-click OtherDevices\Unsupported Devices to expand the item
• Right-click every device listed
• Click Uninstall
• Make sure that the printer cable is the "IEEE 1294 9" type
• Click Start
• Click Shut Down
• Select Restart from the list
• Click OK
• When the computer restarts, a message in the Taskbar indicates that the operating system has found new hardware
• Click Install Automatically for each instance of the Add New Hardware Wizard, and then follow the directions in the wizard
• Click Finish to complete each instance of the wizard.
• Click Start
• Click Printers and Faxes
• Right-click the HP Officejet T45 or T65 printer
• Click Properties
• Click Print Test Page
• If the test page prints correctly, click Yes
• Open any word processing document, and then use the HP Officejet printer to print it to make sure that the installation is successful

Remote Shutdown Tool to Shut Down and Restart a Computer in Windows 2000 at a Set Time
Summary
• This article describes how to use the Remote Shutdown tool (Shutdown.exe) to shut down and restart a local or remote Windows 2000-based or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0-based computer.
• Shutdown.exe is available in the Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit. It is a command-line tool that you can use to shut down or restart a local or remote computer that is running Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0. If you want to schedule a computer to shut down and restart at a specific time, use Shutdown.exe in combination with the at command or Task Scheduler.
Description of the Shutdown.exe Tool
• Shutdown.exe uses the following syntax:
  shutdown \\computername /l /a /r /t:xx "msg" /y /c
  You can use the following switches with Shutdown.exe:
  • \\computername: Use this switch to specify the remote computer to shut down. If you omit this parameter, the local computer name is used.
  • /l (Note that this is a lowercase "L" character): Use this switch to shut down the local computer
  • /a: Use this switch to quit a shutdown operation. You can do this only during the time-out period. If you use this switch, all other parameters are ignored.
  • /r: Use this switch to restart the computer instead of fully shutting it down.
  • /t:xx: Use this switch to specify the time (in seconds) after which the computer is shut down. The default is 20 seconds.
  • "msg": Use this switch to specify a message during the shutdown process. The maximum number of characters that the message can contain is 127.
  • /y: Use this switch to force a "yes" answer to all queries from the computer.
  • /c: Use this switch quit all running programs. If you use this switch, Windows forces all programs that are running to quit. The option to save any data that may have changed is ignored. This can result in data loss in any programs for which data is not previously saved.
Examples
• To shut down the local computer in two minutes and display a "The computer is shutting down" message, use the following line in a batch file or type it at a command prompt, and then press Enter:
  • shutdown /l /t:120 "The computer is shutting down" /y /c
• To cancel the shutdown process, type the following line at the command prompt, and then press Enter:
  • shutdown /l /a /y
  • To shut down and restart a remote computer named "Support," use the following line in a batch file or type it at a command prompt, and then press Enter:
    shutdown \\support /r
  • To schedule the local computer to shutdown and restart at 10:00 P.M., type the following line at a command prompt, and then press Enter:
    • at 22:00 shutdown /l /r /y /c
  • To schedule the local computer to shutdown and restart at 6:00 P.M. every weekday, type the following line at a command prompt, and then press Enter:
    • at 18:00 /every:M,T,W,Th,F shutdown /l /r /y /c

Change Product Key for XP Windows
• Click Start
• Click Run
• Type in
  regedit
• Click Okay
• When the Registry Edit window opens find the following key
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents
• In the right pane, right-click the ODBETimer binary value and select Modify
• Change at least one character of this value to either a number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F
• Click OK
• Close the Registry Editor
• This renders the current product key invalid and deactivates Windows
• Continue on to "Reactivate Windows below

Reactivate Windows using your new product key
• Click Start
• Click Run
• Type in the following command:
  %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe /a
• Windows will launch the Product Activation Wizard
• Select the option to Telephone a Microsoft customer service representative to activate Windows
• Select the Change Product Key option
• Enter your new product key
• Click Update
• Close the window
• If Windows returns you to the previous screen, just select the Remind Me Later option
• When the wizard is finished, reboot the system.
• When Windows reboots, your next step will depend on which Windows XP version you are using.
  • If you have XP Home or Professional, you'll be prompted to reactivate your copy of Windows through the normal activation process
  • If you have XP Corporate, no activation is required and your machine should have a valid product ID

Stop Pop Up Spam
• Provided by the FCC
• Getting Error windows as you see below.
  
  
  
• Are you interrupted by a stream of "pop up" messages that stop you from using your home computer until you close them?
• Are you tired of seeing one message invariably morph into more even when you're not using your Web browser?
• Are you frustrated by the fact that many pop up spammers are advertising software to block the exact type of messages they're sending?
• It's a high-tech variation on a classic scam: Pop up spammers want your money to fix the very problem they created.
  • Persistent and annoying, pop up spam also is a signal that your home computer is open to hackers.
  • They could use this vulnerability to take over your computer and install new programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts that give them full access to your machine.
  • According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, you can block unwanted pop up messages and better protect your computer from hackers.
  • It's as simple as turning off the Microsoft Windows feature that allows pop up messages, or installing and running a firewall.
  • The advantage of a firewall is that it prevents other types of unauthorized access to your computer, beyond pop up spam.
  • Neither approach will stop pop up advertisements sent to your browser by a Web page you are visiting.
• Disabling Windows Messenger Service
  • Pop up spammers are exploiting a feature of the Microsoft Windows operating systems known as Messenger Service
  • Despite the name, Windows Messenger Service doesn't have anything to do with instant messaging
  • It is designed to provide users on a local or wide-area computer network with messages from the network administrator
  • For example:
    • A company's network administrator might send a message to all its users that the company's network will be shutting down in five minutes.
    • If your home computer is connected only to the Internet, you may not have any practical uses for Windows Messenger Service.
    • If your computer is on a business or home network, however, shutting off Messenger Service might not be the best approach.
    • Your network should be protected by a firewall.
    • Disabling the messenger service will prevent the possibility of pop up spam
  • To disable the messenger service:
  • Click Start
  • Click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control Panel)
  • Double-click Administrative Tools
  • Double-click Services
  • Double-click Messenger
  • In the Startup type list, click Disabled
  • Click Stop
  • Click OK

Hide Drives
• Open Regedit
  • Go to Start
  • Click on Run
  • Type in
    regedit
  • Click okay
• Click File
• Click Export
• Export the registry so you have a backup
• Navigate to one of these strings
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
  • This key changes the settings for the current user only
  • If the folder doesn't exist create a new 'Key" named "Explorer"
    • To do this highlight Policies
    • Click on Edit
    • Click on New
    • Click on Key
    • Name the new key Explorer
    • In the Explorer key folder create a new DWORD value
      • Right-click the word Explorer
      • Click Edit on the toolbar
      • Click New
      • Click New DWORD value
      • Name the value "NoDrives" (without the quotes)
      • All drives will be visible as long as this value's data is set to 0
  HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
  • Changes the settings for all users
  • If the folder doesn't exist create a new 'Key" named "Explorer"
    • To do this highlight Policies
    • Click on Edit
    • Click on New
    • Click on Key
    • Name the new key Explorer
    • In the Explorer key folder create a new DWORD value
      • Right-click the word Explorer
      • Click Edit on the toolbar
      • Click New
      • Click New DWORD value
      • Name the value "NoDrives" (without the quotes)
      • All drives will be visible as long as this value's data is set to 0
  • Using the table below, Enter the decimal number corresponding to the drive(s) you want to hide as NoDrives value data
    • To Enter the value for the drives you want to hide right-click on NoDrives
    • Choose Modify
    • Make sure you select Decimal base, not Hexadecimal and Enter the number (value)
    
    

    A	1
    B	2
    C	4
    D	8
    E	16
    F	32
    G	64
    H	128
    I	256
    J	512
    K	1024
    L	2048
    M	4096
    N	8192
    O	16384
    P	32768
    Q	65536
    R	131072
    S	262144
    T	524288
    U	1048576
    V	2097152
    W	4194304
    X	8388608
    Y	16777216
    Z	33554432
    All Drives	0

    
    
  • If you want to hide more than one drive, you simply add the drive amounts together for a combined total.
  • Example:
    • To hide the E:/ and F:/ drives, add the decimal value for the E:/ drive to the decimal value to the F:/ drive
      (E=16) + (F=32) = 48 so you would Enter the number 48



File and Folder Management
• Full Screen View and AutoHide
  • XP is set by default so the Explorer toolbar at the top with the standard buttons will remain visible
    • Click on Start
    • Click on All Programs
    • Click on Accessories
    • Click on Window Explorer
    • You can hide this toolbar if you right click the toolbar and select Auto-Hide
    • Click anywhere in the main window and the toolbar will disappear
    • To make it appear move the mouse to the top of the window and press the F11 key
• Show In Groups
  • Right click in the right Explorer pane
  • Choose Arrange Icons By
  • Choose Show In Group
  • Note: Show in Groups option will not be available if List View is selected
• Add Sort Options to Details View
  • When you use the Details view the right pane contains a series of details listed across the top of the right pane
  • The default details are Name, Size, Type, and Date Modified
  • You can use any of the columns headings as the default to be used in the sort order
  • Click on the small arrowhead following the heading name to choose the sort order
  • If the arrow is up then it will sort from A to Z
  • If the arrow is down it will sort Z to A
  • Additional options are available
  • Click View
  • Choose Details
  • The Choose Details Property Sheet will open

How To Optimize Windows XP
• How To Manage Processor Time
  • Windows manages system processing. Windows can allocate tasks between processors and manage multiple processes on a single processor
  • However, you can set Windows to allocate more processor time to the program that you are currently running
  • The added processor time causes programs to respond more quickly
  • If you have background programs such as printing or disk backup that you want to run while you work, you can have Windows share processor resources equally between background and foreground programs
  • Note: You must be logged on as an administrator to the local computer or have the correct network credentials to make certain changes in System
  • How to change the performance of foreground and background programs
    • Click Start
    • Click Run
    • Type in the Open box
      sysdm.cpl
    • Click the Advanced tab
    • Click Settings under Performance
    • Click the Advanced tab
    • Use one of the following methods under Processor scheduling
      • Click Programs to assign more processor resources to the foreground program than the background program.
      • Click Background services to assign equal amounts of processor resources to all programs
      • Notes:
        • If you click Programs, the foreground program runs more smoothly and responds more quickly.
        • If you want a background task such as a Backup utility to run faster, click Background services.
        • The Programs option allocates short, variable time slices (quanta) to running programs, and the Background services option assigns long, fixed quanta
• How to manage computer memory
  • When your computer is running low on RAM, and you must have more RAM immediately, Windows uses hard disk space to simulate RAM
  • This is known as virtual memory. It is also known as the paging file. This is similar to the UNIX swapfile
  • By default, the virtual memory paging file (named pagefile.sys) that is created during installation is 1.5 times the RAM on your computer
  • You can optimize virtual memory use by dividing the space between multiple drives and by removing space from slow or heavily accessed drives
  • To best optimize your virtual memory space, divide it among as many physical hard drives as possible
  • When you select drives, follow these guidelines:
    • Try to avoid having a paging file on the same drive as the system files
    • Avoid putting a paging file on a fault-tolerant drive such as a mirrored volume or a RAID-5 volume. Paging files do not require fault-tolerance, and some fault-tolerant computers experience slow data writes because they write data to multiple locations
    • Do not put multiple paging files on different partitions on the same physical disk drive.
  • How to change the size of the virtual memory paging file
    • You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to complete this procedure
    • If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure
    • Click Start
    • Click Run
    • Type in the Open box
      sysdm.cpl
    • Click the Advanced tab
    • Click Settings under Performance
    • Click the Advanced tab
    • Click Change under Virtual memory
    • Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file that you want to change
    • Under Paging file size for selected drive
    • Click Custom size
    • Type a new paging file size in megabytes (MB) in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB) box
    • Click Set
    • If you decrease the size of either the initial or maximum paging file settings, you must restart your computer to see the effects of those changes
    • When you increase the paging file size, you typically do not have to restart your computer
    • Notes:
      • To have Windows select the best paging file size, click System managed size
      • The recommended minimum size is equivalent to 1.5 times the RAM on your computer, and 3 times that figure for the maximum size
        • For example: If you have 256 MB of RAM, the minimum size is 384 MB, and the maximum size is 1152 MB
      • For best performance, do not set the initial size to less than the minimum recommended size under Total paging file size for all drives
      • The recommended size is equivalent to 1.5 times the RAM on your computer
      • It is good practice to leave the paging file at its recommended size
      • However, you may increase its size if you frequently use programs that use much memory
      • To delete a paging file, set both the initial size and the maximum size to zero, or click No paging file
      • It is strongly recommend that you do not disable or delete the paging file
  • How To Optimize The Memory Usage
    • You Can Optimize Your Computer's Memory Usage
      • If you use your computer primarily as a workstation instead of as a server, you can devote more memory to your programs
        • Your programs will work faster and your system cache size will remain the default size that came with Windows XP
      • You can also set aside more computer memory for a larger system cache if your computer is used primarily as a server, or if you use programs that require a larger cache
        • Click Start
        • Click Run
        • Type in the Open box
          sysdm.cpl
        • Click the Advanced tab
        • Click Settings under Performance
        • Click the Advanced tab
        • Use one of the following methods under Memory usage
          • Click Programs if you use your computer primarily as a workstation instead of as a server.
            • This option allocates more memory to your programs.
          • Click System cache if your computer is used primarily as a server or if you use programs that use a larger cache
• How To Change The Visual Effects
  • Windows provides several options to set the visual effects of your computer.
    • For example:
      • You can show shadows under menus. Shadows give menus a 3-D look
      • You can configure Windows to display all the contents of a window while you move the window on your screen
      • To make large text more readable, you can display the smooth edges of screen fonts.
  • Windows provides options to turn on all the settings (for best appearance), or none of the settings (for best computer performance)
  • You can also restore the default settings
  • To Change The Visual Effects, Follow These Steps
    • Click Start
    • Click Run
    • Type in the Open box
      sysdm.cpl
    • Click the Advanced tab
    • Under Performance, click Settings
    • Click the Visual Effects tab
    • Use one of the following methods
      • Click Adjust for best performance to have Windows automatically adjust the settings for best performance
      • Click Adjust for best appearance to have Windows automatically adjust the settings for best appearance
      • Click Custom, and then select the check boxes for those items that you want to turn on
      • Clear the check boxes for the items that you want to turn off
  Glossary
  • Background Program
    • A background program is a program that runs while the user is working on another task. The computer's microprocessor assigns fewer resources to background programs than to foreground programs.
  • Environment Variable
    • An environment variable is a string of environment information such as a drive, path, or file name that is associated with a symbolic name that Windows can use. You use System in Control Panel or the set command at the command prompt to define environment variables.
  • Foreground Program
    • A foreground program is a program that runs in the active window (the upper-most window with the highlighted title bar). The foreground program responds to commands that the user issues.
  • Mirrored Volume
    • A mirrored volume is a fault-tolerant volume that duplicates data on two physical disks. A mirrored volume provides data redundancy by using two identical volumes. These volumes are known as mirrors. They duplicate the information that the volume contains. A mirror is always located on a different disk. If one of the physical disks fails, the data on the failed disk becomes unavailable, but the system continues to operate in the mirror on the remaining disk. You can create mirrored volumes only on dynamic disks.
  • Partition
    • A partition is part of a physical disk that functions as if it were a physically separate disk. After you create a partition, you must format it and assign it a drive letter before you can store data on it. On basic disks, partitions are known as basic volumes. Basic volumes include primary partitions and logical drives. On dynamic disks, partitions are known as dynamic volumes. Dynamic volumes include simple, striped, spanned, mirrored, and RAID-5 volumes.
  • RAID-5 volume
    • A RAID-5 volume is a fault-tolerant volume with data and parity striped intermittently across three or more physical disks. Parity is a calculated value that is used to reconstruct data after a failure. If a part of a physical disk fails, Windows recreates the data that was on the failed part from the remaining data and parity. You can create RAID-5 volumes only on dynamic disks, and you cannot mirror or extend RAID-5 volumes

Sites button and Custom Level Slider Are Grayed Out In Internet Options Security Tab
• Solution
  • You have to set change these settings for each zone
  • Click Start Button
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    regedit
  • Find the following key
    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\{Zone ID}

    Zone	Zone ID
    Local Internet	1
    Trusted Sites	2
    Internet	3
    Restricted Sites	4

  • In the right-pane, double-click Flags and click Decimal
  • Add 3 to the existing Value data
    Example: If Flags value reads 0 (Decimal), set it to 3
  • Close Registry Editor

Custom Level And Default Level Buttons In Internet Options Security Tab Are Grayed Out
• Solution
  • Click Start Button
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    regedit
  • Navigate to the following locations:
    • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet
      Explorer\Control Panel]
    • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet
      Explorer\Control Panel]
  • In the right-pane, select the SecChangeSettings value and delete it.
  • Close Registry Editor

The Display Rotates 180 Degrees When You Lower Your Screen Resolution Using the Accessibility Wizard
Error
• Using the Accessibility Wizard to switch to a lower screen resolution, the display appears to be rotated 180 degrees (upside down).
• Note: This behavior occurs when the computer's video driver supports such rotation, such as with some Intel i855GM/i852GT drivers
Solution
• Obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP.
  • 322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack Hotfix information

Desktop Tab Missing In Display Properties
• Click Start
• Click Run
• Type in
  regedit
• Find the following Registry Keys
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
• In the right pane look for NoDispBackgroundPage and delete the entry or set the value to "0"

Missing Tabs in "Display Properties all systems
• Click on Start button
• Click Run
• Type in
  regedit
• Press Enter
• Scroll down to the following key
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
• There will probably be 2 folders "Explorer" and "System"
• If they are there, delete the "System" folder
• Next go into the "Explorer" folder
• You will see a key "NoActiveDesktopChanges"
• Delete the key if present
• Close Registry Edit Window

'Run' Doesn't Show Up In Start Menu
• Right click the Start button
• Click Properties
• Click Customize
• Click Advanced
• Scroll down to Start Menu items and put a check in the run command box

Auto-Update Grayed Out





• Click Start Button
• Click Run
• Type in the Open box
  regedit
• Click OK
• In the Left hand Pane find the following Key
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
• Delete the key
• Reboot and try again

How To Force Users To Quit Programs And Log Off After A Period Of Inactivity In Windows XP
Configure the Winexit.scr
• Use Search to locate the Winexit.scr file
• Right-click the Winexit.scr file
• Click Install.
• The Display Properties dialog box appears with the Screen Saver tab active
• The Logoff Screen Saver entry is automatically selected
• Click Settings
• Select the Force application termination check box to force programs to quit
• In the Countdown for in seconds box, type the number of seconds for which the logoff dialog box appears before the user is logged off
• In the Logoff Message box, type the message that appears during the logoff countdown
• Click OK
• In the Display Properties dialog box, click Preview
• You see the Auto Logoff dialog box
• It displays the logoff message and the countdown timer
• Click Cancel
• Click OK
• Exit

Can't Connect To Secure Sites
• Verify that Internet Explorer Is Using 128-Bit Encryption
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Click Help on the Menu Toolbar
  • Click About Internet Explorer
  • The Cipher Strength value should appears as 128-bit
  • If the Cipher Strength is less then 128-bit download and install the Internet "Explorer High Encryption Pack"
• Delete Temporary Internet Files
  • Open IE Explorer
  • Click Tools on the Menu Toolbar
  • Click Internet Options
  • Click the Delete Cookies Button
  • Click the Delete Files Button
  • Click the Delete History Button
  • Exit Internet Options
• Check Internet Explorer Security, Content, and Advanced Settings
  • Setting up the Security settings for the Trusted sites zones
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Click Tools on the Menu toolbar
  • Click Internet Option
  • In the Internet Options window select the Security tab
  • Select Trusted sites
  • Click Default Level
  • Add the secure Web site you are trying to access to the Trusted sites zone
    • Click Sites
    • Type the web address (URL) of the site in the Add this Web site to the zone box
    • Click Add
    • Click OK
    • Click Apply
• Clear the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) slate and AutoComplete history
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Click Tools on the Menu toolbar
  • Click Internet Options
  • Select the Content tab
  • Under Certificates, click Clear SSL State
  • Click OK when you receive the message that the SSL cache was successfully cleared
  • Under Personal information, click AutoComplete
  • Under Clear AutoComplete history, click Clear Forms
  • Click OK when you are prompted to confirm the operation
• Verify that Internet Explorer is configured to use SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • C lick Tools on the Menu toolbar
  • Click Internet Options
  • Select the Advanced tab
  • In the Settings box look under the Security header and put a tic in the Use SSL 2.0 and Use SSL 3.0 check boxes
  • Click OK
• Verify that the Date and Time Settings on Your Computer Are Correct
  • Right click the time in the system tray and check that the date and time settings are configured
• Reregistering the softpub.dll
  • Click start
  • Click run
  • Type in the run box
    regsvr32 softpub.dll
  • Click OK
  • When you receive the OK message; try again

Stop 0xC2 or BAD_POOL_CALLER Use the following table to determine the cause of the problem then follow the steps in the solution

Parameter 1	Parameter 2	Parameter 3	Parameter 4	Description
0x00000000	This value is   always 0	The pool type   being allocated	The pool tag   being used	The caller is requesting a zero   bytepool allocation
0x00000001   0x00000002   0x00000004	Pointer to   pool header	First part of pool   header contents	This value is   always zero	Pool header has been corrupted
0x00000006	Reserved	Pointer to pool   header	Pool header   contents	Attempt to free a memory pool   that was already freed
0x00000007	Reserved	Pointer to pool   header	This value is   always zero	Attempt to free a memory pool   that was already freed
0x00000008	Current   IRQL	Pool type	Size of   allocation	Attempt to allocate pool at   invalid IRQL
0x00000009	Current   IRQL	Pool type	Address of   pool	Attempt to free pool at invalid   IRQL
0x00000040	Starting   address	Start of system   address space	This value is   always zero	Attempt to free usermode   addressto kernel pool
0x00000041	Starting   address	Physical page   frame	Highest   physical   page frame	Attempt to free a non-allocated   nonpaged pool address
0x00000042   0x00000043	Address   being freed	This value is   always zero	This value is   always zero	Attempt to free a virtual address   that was never in any pool
0x00000050	Starting   address	Start offset in   pages from   beginning of   paged pool	Size in bytes   of paged   pool	Attempt to free a non-allocated   paged pool address
0x00000099	Address   being freed	This value is   always zero	This value is   always zero	Attempt to free pool with   invalidaddressor corruption   in pool header
0x0000009A	Pool type	Size of allocation   in bytes	Allocation's   pool tag	Attempt to allocate   must-succeed


Solution
• Faulty device drivers or system service can create the Stop 0xC2
• The Stop message might lists the driver by name, if so disable or remove the driver or roll back the driver
  • If the driver is the problem contact the manufacture for an updated driver
• Another cause can be due to defective hardware
  • Remove hardware to check to see if this is a problem
• Encountered a Stop 0xC2 message while upgrading to Windows XP Professional, this could be due to an incompatible driver, system service, virus scanner, or backup
  • Remove all third-party device drivers and system services before running setup
  • After you have completely installed Windows XP Pro contact the hardware manufacturer and obtain the latest compatible updates

Drives Disappeared in XP
• Click Start
• Click Run
• Type in
  regedit
• Press Enter
• Find the following key
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\
  {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
• In right pane and find the Upper Filter and Lower Filter entries
• Right click on each and select Delete
• Close regedit and reboot

Enable CD Burning
• Open Window Explorer
• Right click on the CD Drive
• Click Properties
• Click Recording tab
• Make sure Enable CD recording on this drive is checked
• Click Okay

CD DRIVE/DVD DRIVE:/ not accessible - Incorrect Function
• Open Device Manager
• Right-Click on the drive with the problem
• Click Properties
• Click Recording Tab
• Check the "Enable CD Recording On This Drive" box

Task Bar Disappeared Or Is To Small To Use In XP
• Pressing the CTRL+ESC keys at the same time will make the Start Menu appear.
• On the Start Menu click Settings, Taskbar and Start Menu and make sure that Auto-hide isunchecked and the taskbar is unlocked.
• If you see a small thin bar where your task bar used to be.
• Move the mouse over the thin line until you see a double headed arrow, press down on the left mouse bottom and hold it down while you slide it upward till you see the taskbar.
Search Stops Working In XP
• Click the Start Button
• Click Run
• Type in the following commands one at a time and click Okay
  • regsvr32 urlmon.dll
  • regsvr32 jscript.dll
  • regsvr32 wshom.ocx
• Each should prompt a confirmation box saying it has been successful

No Device Manager
• Do you have Security Update KB905749 installed on your system?
• Most have solved this problem by removing the KB905749 update
• Microsoft has been notified of this problem and they are suppose to be working on a fix. When ???

Enable the Num Lock Key on Boot Up
Note:
• This article does not apply to Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server.
• It also does not apply to Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server running Terminal Services
• To enable Num Lock before a user logs on
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in
    Regedt32.exe
  • Click Run
  • Navigate to
    HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Keyboard
  • Change the value for InitialKeyboardIndicators from 0 to 2
  • Close the registry editor
  • Reboot

"The Request Lookup Key Was Not Found In Any Activaiton Context"
• The problem is caused by IE Explorer 7 didn't install correctly.
• Uninstall IE Explorer 7 using the following method.
• Using Add/Remove Programs will NOT always work, the following method removes more of what is installed.
  • Go to Start
  • Click Run
  • Type in or copy and paste the following
    %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe
  • Click Okay and it will uninstall IE Explorer 7
  • Reboot.

Repair IE Explorer 7
• Start Internet Explorer 7
• On the Tools menu, click Internet Options
• On the Advanced tab, click Reset
• In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset to confirm

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