Lesson 6: Improve your Internet browsing
Stop QoS
First, let's get rid of a system that's supposed to make sure your network is working, but in reality isn't helpful and can eat up to 20 percent of your bandwidth. It's called QoS, for Quality of Service, and here's how you stop it.
Click Start, then Run.
Enter gpedit.msc in the box.
Under Local Computer Policy,click the plus sign next to Computer Configuration, then the one next to Administrative Templates.
Click the plus sign next to Network and select QoS Packet Scheduler.
In the right-hand box, double-click on Limit Reservable Bandwidth.
On the Settings tab, choose Enabled.
In the Bandwidth Limit % box, set it to 0%. (Do not leave it blank.)
Click OK.
Network settings
Now let's change some other networking settings.
Out of the box, Windows networking comes configured for a generic user with a generic connection. It has no idea what kind of Internet connection you have--whether you're using dialup or DSL or a cable modem. Because of that, its network settings are also generic.
It's helpful to tailor these settings to your connection. The easiest way to do this is to use a (free) software program that will do it for you.
There are several programs that will let you manage those changes. Some require you to enter values in boxes; they then edit the Registry for you. But a much easier-to-use one is TCP Optimizer from Speed Guide, a Web site dedicated to broadband issues.
The nice thing about TCP Optimizer is that you only have to use a slider to indicate your connection speed, tell it how you connect, and click on the Optimize button. When you reboot, your connection should be noticeably faster (and you can always go back to Speakeasy.net to check it).
The measures we've covered in this course will help speed your computer, but they're only the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of small tweaks you can make, and the only limitation is how deep you're willing to delve into your system.
A number of Web sites are dedicated to helping people squeeze every last drop of speed from their machines. Searching for speed up Windows XP or Windows XP speed tweaks will help you find some.
In particular, check out the System Performance section of TweakXP.com , and the Broadband/Registry Tweaks section of Speed Guide --both have some excellent suggestions with detailed instructions, along with a community of people you can ask for help.
Friday, May 18, 2007
6 Lessons To Speed Up Your Windows PC - Lesson 5
Lesson 5: Tweaking the Registry and more
In this lesson you'll get into the nitty-gritty with the Windows Registry¨Cthe heart of the operating system, and a place full of ways to squeeze some more speed from your computer. The Registry stores all sorts of information about your system in what are called keys.A key might describe how Windows handles a particular type of file, or how it manages memory, and many other things.You get into the Registry by clicking Start, choosing Run, and entering regedit in the box that appears. Then welcome to the Registry, perhaps the most intimidating part of Windows. Here you can make all sorts of internal changes to the way Windows operates.
Changes made to the Registry will not take effect until you restart Windows.
ALERT: Be very cautious editing your PC's Registry. Changes made here can completely disable your computer if they're done incorrectly. We recommend that you follow the instructions below very carefully, and encourage you to back up your data files before proceeding.
Saving your configuration
Before you do anything else, set up a System Restore Point. That tells Windows to save everything about your current configuration, so if something goes awry you can tell it to revert back to that point kind of like a big undo button.
To set a Restore Point:
Click Start and choose either Programs or All Programs.
Go to Accessories, then System Tools, and choose System Restore.
On the welcome screen, you'll be asked whether you want to restore or create a restore point. Choose Create a Restore Point.
Name it something you'll remember, such as Before CNET Changes.
Click Create.
Now if something doesn't work, you can repeat these steps and choose Restore instead, to return to the status you just saved.
That done, let's tweak.
The first things you¡¯ll see are the five main sections of the Registry's entries. They have cryptic names: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, and so on.
Next to each of those five sections is a small plus sign. Click that to view that section's subsections. Note that you can end up going several levels deep before getting to the key you want to change.
The standard way to point to a key is to list the various levels separated by slashes. For example, if you see:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Control Panel / Desktop
it means you should click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER, then the plus sign next to Control Panel, then look for Desktop.
Make your menus load faster
For your first trip to the Registry, we'll do something simple: Make your menus work faster.
Start regedit (see above).
Navigate to the following key by clicking the plus signs next to the name of each level:HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Control Panel
Click Desktop.A list of entries will appear on the right side.
Double-click MenuShowDelay and change the Value data to 0.
Click OK.
Free up memory from closed programs
When you shut down a program, Windows will often keep part of it in memory even if it's not being used. Called dynamic link libraries (DLLs), they take up memory and sometimes cause other problems.You can change a Registry key to prevent Windows from doing this.Start regedit, following the instructions in this lesson.
Navigate to the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion
Under CurrentVersion, right-click on Explorer, then choose New->Key.
In the box that appears (¡±New Key #1¡å), change the name to AlwaysUnloadDLL.
Hit Enter. On the right side, double-click the word (Default).
For the value data, enter 1.
Click OK.
Close regedit (unless you want to tweak some more).
Speed program startup
Windows can be set to load information about some applications to make them start up faster by changing how much work a program called the Prefetcher does.
Using regedit (instructions above), navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control / Session Manager / Memory Management / PrefetchParameters
When you click PrefetchParameters, the right side of the editor will display a list of entries. Double-click Enable Prefetcher and change the value data to 5 (in decimal, not hexadecimal).
Click OK.
Close regedit.
Reduce Windows Workload
If you have many folders and subfolders, every time you access one, Windows will spend a lot of time updating the last accessed time for that folder and all its sub-folders. Stopping that process will buy you some time.
Using regedit (see instructions above), navigate to the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControlSet / Control
Under Control, right-click on FileSystem, then choose New, then DWORD Value.
Replace New Value #1 with NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate and hit Enter. Double-click NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate and change the Value data to 1.
Click OK.
Improve Swapfile performance
Many programs use a lot of memory, and if you run more than one or two at once, Windows might run out of RAM. In that case, it will start using a section of your hard disk called the swapfile to store information. It's a lot slower than RAM, but it beats not being able to run a program.But sometimes Windows uses the swapfile before it has to. This tweak will tell it to wait till the last moment before doing that.
Click Start, then Run.
Enter msconfig in the box.
Click on the System.ini tab.
Click the plus sign next to 386enh.
Click New, then type ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 in the box that appears.
Click OK.
Continue To Lesson 6 - Last Lesson
In this lesson you'll get into the nitty-gritty with the Windows Registry¨Cthe heart of the operating system, and a place full of ways to squeeze some more speed from your computer. The Registry stores all sorts of information about your system in what are called keys.A key might describe how Windows handles a particular type of file, or how it manages memory, and many other things.You get into the Registry by clicking Start, choosing Run, and entering regedit in the box that appears. Then welcome to the Registry, perhaps the most intimidating part of Windows. Here you can make all sorts of internal changes to the way Windows operates.
Changes made to the Registry will not take effect until you restart Windows.
ALERT: Be very cautious editing your PC's Registry. Changes made here can completely disable your computer if they're done incorrectly. We recommend that you follow the instructions below very carefully, and encourage you to back up your data files before proceeding.
Saving your configuration
Before you do anything else, set up a System Restore Point. That tells Windows to save everything about your current configuration, so if something goes awry you can tell it to revert back to that point kind of like a big undo button.
To set a Restore Point:
Click Start and choose either Programs or All Programs.
Go to Accessories, then System Tools, and choose System Restore.
On the welcome screen, you'll be asked whether you want to restore or create a restore point. Choose Create a Restore Point.
Name it something you'll remember, such as Before CNET Changes.
Click Create.
Now if something doesn't work, you can repeat these steps and choose Restore instead, to return to the status you just saved.
That done, let's tweak.
The first things you¡¯ll see are the five main sections of the Registry's entries. They have cryptic names: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, and so on.
Next to each of those five sections is a small plus sign. Click that to view that section's subsections. Note that you can end up going several levels deep before getting to the key you want to change.
The standard way to point to a key is to list the various levels separated by slashes. For example, if you see:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Control Panel / Desktop
it means you should click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER, then the plus sign next to Control Panel, then look for Desktop.
Make your menus load faster
For your first trip to the Registry, we'll do something simple: Make your menus work faster.
Start regedit (see above).
Navigate to the following key by clicking the plus signs next to the name of each level:HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Control Panel
Click Desktop.A list of entries will appear on the right side.
Double-click MenuShowDelay and change the Value data to 0.
Click OK.
Free up memory from closed programs
When you shut down a program, Windows will often keep part of it in memory even if it's not being used. Called dynamic link libraries (DLLs), they take up memory and sometimes cause other problems.You can change a Registry key to prevent Windows from doing this.Start regedit, following the instructions in this lesson.
Navigate to the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion
Under CurrentVersion, right-click on Explorer, then choose New->Key.
In the box that appears (¡±New Key #1¡å), change the name to AlwaysUnloadDLL.
Hit Enter. On the right side, double-click the word (Default).
For the value data, enter 1.
Click OK.
Close regedit (unless you want to tweak some more).
Speed program startup
Windows can be set to load information about some applications to make them start up faster by changing how much work a program called the Prefetcher does.
Using regedit (instructions above), navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control / Session Manager / Memory Management / PrefetchParameters
When you click PrefetchParameters, the right side of the editor will display a list of entries. Double-click Enable Prefetcher and change the value data to 5 (in decimal, not hexadecimal).
Click OK.
Close regedit.
Reduce Windows Workload
If you have many folders and subfolders, every time you access one, Windows will spend a lot of time updating the last accessed time for that folder and all its sub-folders. Stopping that process will buy you some time.
Using regedit (see instructions above), navigate to the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControlSet / Control
Under Control, right-click on FileSystem, then choose New, then DWORD Value.
Replace New Value #1 with NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate and hit Enter. Double-click NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate and change the Value data to 1.
Click OK.
Improve Swapfile performance
Many programs use a lot of memory, and if you run more than one or two at once, Windows might run out of RAM. In that case, it will start using a section of your hard disk called the swapfile to store information. It's a lot slower than RAM, but it beats not being able to run a program.But sometimes Windows uses the swapfile before it has to. This tweak will tell it to wait till the last moment before doing that.
Click Start, then Run.
Enter msconfig in the box.
Click on the System.ini tab.
Click the plus sign next to 386enh.
Click New, then type ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 in the box that appears.
Click OK.
Continue To Lesson 6 - Last Lesson
6 Lessons To Speed Up Your Windows PC - Lesson 4
Lesson 4: Reduce start-up programs
In this lesson, you'll prevent Windows from automatically running programs you don't need.You may be working in a program and wondering why it runs so slow--especially if you don't have any other programs open. The problem is that when Windows boots up, a lot of programs are automatically loaded to run in the background where you can't see. Of course, some of these are quite valuable (virus protection for instance), but many are useless and simply eating up your system resources for no reason.
Seek and destroy
Here's how to get rid of these unnecessary start-up programs:
The first and easiest way to seek and destroy unnecessary start-up programs is to look in your Startup folder.
Click Start, then choose All Programs or Programs (depending on your setup).
Find the Startup folder on the list and hover your mouse over it.
The list of programs that automatically start will appear. Check this list, and if you see something you don't want or need to start automatically--such as some Microsoft Office task--right-click it and choose Delete.
Repeat as necessary.
Stop automatic starts
Now let's go a little deeper. Remember EasyCleaner from Lesson 2 ? It has another useful function besides cleaning the Registry: It can tell you what programs start automatically and let you stop them. Here's how:
Start the program and click the Startup button. You'll see a list of all the programs that start automatically with Windows. Most of these should start: your anti-virus program, a Windows program called HDAShCut, maybe a driver or two. But some things just waste resources. Most notorious for loading themselves are media players such as Quicktime and RealPlayer. There's no need for them to be loaded until you need them. If you see things like that which don't belong, select them and click the Delete button. When you're done, click Close and close EasyCleaner.
Deep cleaning
That done, let's go even deeper. Besides programs that run automatically when you start up, Windows also launches services --internal software that does important things, such as making your network run, managing users, and a host of other things.
But there are some services you just don't need; running them is a waste of resources.
To get to the list of services, click Start, then Run.
Enter services.msc in the box. The screen that pops up is a bit intimidating at first, but it's actually pretty straightforward. It lists every service on your machine and tells you whether it starts automatically or manually, among other things.
Click the Extended tab on the bottom, which will create a space that will give you a description of each service.
Now click on the words Startup Type at the top of that column, which will sort the services. The ones that say Automatic are--obviously--the ones that start when Windows does. They're the only ones you care about.
ALERT: Some services are critical for your computer to run. So don't disable anything that's not on the list below unless you're absolutely sure that it's an expendable item.
The following lists services you can probably do without. Of course, if you recognize one that you use such as Windows Messenger or Telnet, don't turn it off.
Alerter
Clipbook
Computer Browser
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Error Reporting Service (if you don't want to be asked to send error reports to Microsoft anymore)
Fast User Switching
Human Interface Access Devices
IPSEC Services
Messenger
NetMeeting
Remote Desktop Sharing
Portable Media Serial Number
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Remote Procedure Call Locator
Remote Registry
Routing & Remote Access
Secondary Logon
Server
SSDP Discovery Service
Telnet
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Upload Manager
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Workstation
Pick one from the list and double-click it. You'll see a drop-down menu next to Startup type that is currently set to Automatic.
Change it to Manual and click OK. This way the service will start only if it's needed, not all the time.
Special services
Two services deserve special mention: the indexing service and Windows themes.The indexing service's job is to keep track of every file on your computer, so if you use Windows' search function you'll be able to find things faster. But if you don't use search that often, the indexing service is a waste of resources and will slow you down.
That's why disabling the indexing service is high on the list of many speed tweakers. To do that, go back to your list of services (Start, Run, enter services.msc -- see above), scroll down to Indexing Service, and set the Startup type to Disabled.
Finally, if you're using the Windows Classic theme (we suggested switching to it in Lesson 1 ), you can free up some memory. Scroll down the list of services to Themes and set it to Disabled.
Continue To Lesson 5
In this lesson, you'll prevent Windows from automatically running programs you don't need.You may be working in a program and wondering why it runs so slow--especially if you don't have any other programs open. The problem is that when Windows boots up, a lot of programs are automatically loaded to run in the background where you can't see. Of course, some of these are quite valuable (virus protection for instance), but many are useless and simply eating up your system resources for no reason.
Seek and destroy
Here's how to get rid of these unnecessary start-up programs:
The first and easiest way to seek and destroy unnecessary start-up programs is to look in your Startup folder.
Click Start, then choose All Programs or Programs (depending on your setup).
Find the Startup folder on the list and hover your mouse over it.
The list of programs that automatically start will appear. Check this list, and if you see something you don't want or need to start automatically--such as some Microsoft Office task--right-click it and choose Delete.
Repeat as necessary.
Stop automatic starts
Now let's go a little deeper. Remember EasyCleaner from Lesson 2 ? It has another useful function besides cleaning the Registry: It can tell you what programs start automatically and let you stop them. Here's how:
Start the program and click the Startup button. You'll see a list of all the programs that start automatically with Windows. Most of these should start: your anti-virus program, a Windows program called HDAShCut, maybe a driver or two. But some things just waste resources. Most notorious for loading themselves are media players such as Quicktime and RealPlayer. There's no need for them to be loaded until you need them. If you see things like that which don't belong, select them and click the Delete button. When you're done, click Close and close EasyCleaner.
Deep cleaning
That done, let's go even deeper. Besides programs that run automatically when you start up, Windows also launches services --internal software that does important things, such as making your network run, managing users, and a host of other things.
But there are some services you just don't need; running them is a waste of resources.
To get to the list of services, click Start, then Run.
Enter services.msc in the box. The screen that pops up is a bit intimidating at first, but it's actually pretty straightforward. It lists every service on your machine and tells you whether it starts automatically or manually, among other things.
Click the Extended tab on the bottom, which will create a space that will give you a description of each service.
Now click on the words Startup Type at the top of that column, which will sort the services. The ones that say Automatic are--obviously--the ones that start when Windows does. They're the only ones you care about.
ALERT: Some services are critical for your computer to run. So don't disable anything that's not on the list below unless you're absolutely sure that it's an expendable item.
The following lists services you can probably do without. Of course, if you recognize one that you use such as Windows Messenger or Telnet, don't turn it off.
Alerter
Clipbook
Computer Browser
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Error Reporting Service (if you don't want to be asked to send error reports to Microsoft anymore)
Fast User Switching
Human Interface Access Devices
IPSEC Services
Messenger
NetMeeting
Remote Desktop Sharing
Portable Media Serial Number
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Remote Procedure Call Locator
Remote Registry
Routing & Remote Access
Secondary Logon
Server
SSDP Discovery Service
Telnet
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Upload Manager
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Workstation
Pick one from the list and double-click it. You'll see a drop-down menu next to Startup type that is currently set to Automatic.
Change it to Manual and click OK. This way the service will start only if it's needed, not all the time.
Special services
Two services deserve special mention: the indexing service and Windows themes.The indexing service's job is to keep track of every file on your computer, so if you use Windows' search function you'll be able to find things faster. But if you don't use search that often, the indexing service is a waste of resources and will slow you down.
That's why disabling the indexing service is high on the list of many speed tweakers. To do that, go back to your list of services (Start, Run, enter services.msc -- see above), scroll down to Indexing Service, and set the Startup type to Disabled.
Finally, if you're using the Windows Classic theme (we suggested switching to it in Lesson 1 ), you can free up some memory. Scroll down the list of services to Themes and set it to Disabled.
Continue To Lesson 5
6 Lessons To Speed Up Your Windows PC - Lesson 3
Lesson 3: Get more out of your hardware
In this lesson you'll get into some of the deeper parts of your computer to change the way Windows works with your hard drive.One of the slowest things about your machine is your hard drive. It takes a computer forever (comparatively) to read the disk and write things to it. So it makes sense that anything you can do to speed up your drive will also speed up your computer.
In this lesson, we'll cover two permanent changes you can make that affect how Windows works with your hard drive. The first upgrades your file system--the way Windows stores information on your drive. The second speeds up how Windows moves that information from place to place.It's possible your computer is already set the right way. Let's find out.
The file system is how Windows stores your files on your hard drive, and it's akin to the way a library arranges books on a shelf. Older versions of Windows used a file system called FAT32 (File Allocation Table, if you must know). Newer versions use one called NTFS (New Technology File System). NTFS has several benefits. Most importantly, files don't get fragmented as much, so you won¡¯t have to defrag as often (see Lesson 2 for instructions on how to defrag).
You can't tell which way your drive is set up just by using it. But to get the most out of your machine, you'll want to make sure that you're using NTFS.
Losing FAT
First, check to see if you'¯re already using it. Go to My Computer, then right-click on your hard drive and choose Properties. On the window that appears, you'll see either File system: FAT32 or File system: NTFS.If it's FAT32, you should convert it. Here's how:
Shut down any running programs.
Click Start, then choose Run.
In the box, enter cmd, which will bring up a black command-line window. You'll see a prompt that says something like C:\WINDOWS¡± with a blinking cursor. (If you've ever used DOS, you'll recognize this.)
Enter the following: convert c: /fs:ntfs (If your hard drive isn't drive C:, substitute the correct letter, and don't forget the space between the colon and the slash.)
When you press Enter, you'll probably see a message saying the conversion will take place next time you start Windows. So click Start, choose Shut Down, and choose Restart. Windows will convert your drive--and it will also reboot your computer twice.
Hook into DMA
Next, let's make sure your computer is transferring data efficiently by using a technology called DMA (direct memory access).
Go to your Control Panel and double-click System, then choose the Hardware tab. Click Device Manager. This will bring up a list of every type of hardware your computer has, from Computer to Disk Drives to Monitors, and more.
Click the plus sign next to IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
Double-click Primary IDE Channel.(If you have two of them, don't worry. Just repeat this procedure.)
Click the Advanced Settings tab. You'll probably see two devices listed (0 and 1).
For each one, click the drop-down arrow next to Transfer Mode and choose DMA if available.Then click OK. (If you have another Primary IDE Channel, repeat this procedure.)
Close Device Manager and reboot your computer.
Congratulations! You've just made two simple changes that most people have never heard of, that will add a bit more speed and stability to your system.
Continue To Lesson 4
In this lesson you'll get into some of the deeper parts of your computer to change the way Windows works with your hard drive.One of the slowest things about your machine is your hard drive. It takes a computer forever (comparatively) to read the disk and write things to it. So it makes sense that anything you can do to speed up your drive will also speed up your computer.
In this lesson, we'll cover two permanent changes you can make that affect how Windows works with your hard drive. The first upgrades your file system--the way Windows stores information on your drive. The second speeds up how Windows moves that information from place to place.It's possible your computer is already set the right way. Let's find out.
The file system is how Windows stores your files on your hard drive, and it's akin to the way a library arranges books on a shelf. Older versions of Windows used a file system called FAT32 (File Allocation Table, if you must know). Newer versions use one called NTFS (New Technology File System). NTFS has several benefits. Most importantly, files don't get fragmented as much, so you won¡¯t have to defrag as often (see Lesson 2 for instructions on how to defrag).
You can't tell which way your drive is set up just by using it. But to get the most out of your machine, you'll want to make sure that you're using NTFS.
Losing FAT
First, check to see if you'¯re already using it. Go to My Computer, then right-click on your hard drive and choose Properties. On the window that appears, you'll see either File system: FAT32 or File system: NTFS.If it's FAT32, you should convert it. Here's how:
Shut down any running programs.
Click Start, then choose Run.
In the box, enter cmd, which will bring up a black command-line window. You'll see a prompt that says something like C:\WINDOWS¡± with a blinking cursor. (If you've ever used DOS, you'll recognize this.)
Enter the following: convert c: /fs:ntfs (If your hard drive isn't drive C:, substitute the correct letter, and don't forget the space between the colon and the slash.)
When you press Enter, you'll probably see a message saying the conversion will take place next time you start Windows. So click Start, choose Shut Down, and choose Restart. Windows will convert your drive--and it will also reboot your computer twice.
Hook into DMA
Next, let's make sure your computer is transferring data efficiently by using a technology called DMA (direct memory access).
Go to your Control Panel and double-click System, then choose the Hardware tab. Click Device Manager. This will bring up a list of every type of hardware your computer has, from Computer to Disk Drives to Monitors, and more.
Click the plus sign next to IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
Double-click Primary IDE Channel.(If you have two of them, don't worry. Just repeat this procedure.)
Click the Advanced Settings tab. You'll probably see two devices listed (0 and 1).
For each one, click the drop-down arrow next to Transfer Mode and choose DMA if available.Then click OK. (If you have another Primary IDE Channel, repeat this procedure.)
Close Device Manager and reboot your computer.
Congratulations! You've just made two simple changes that most people have never heard of, that will add a bit more speed and stability to your system.
Continue To Lesson 4
6 Lessons To Speed Up Your Windows PC - Lesson 2
Lesson 2: Clean your drive
In this lesson you'll learn how to clean up the data on your hard drive to make accessing files faster.
Hard disks run faster and more consistently when not completely filled. Having a large block of unused disk space is essential for both speed and stability. So it's useful to look through your hard disk and remove files that you no longer need (and you'll probably be surprised how many there are!). Before you begin, check how much space you currently have on your hard drive. To do this, open up My Computer, right-click on your hard disk's icon, choose Properties, and then make a note of how many gigabytes or megabytes of free space you have. Now go through your My Documents folder. Delete what you don't need, or if there's stuff you want just in case consider storing it on a CD, DVD, or second hard drive so your main drive doesn't have to wade through it.
Eliminate extra software
That done, continue your cleanup by getting rid of any software you don't use. Go to your Control Panel and select Add or Remove Programs.
A list of your installed software will appear. Scroll through it and remove anything you don¡¯t use anymore. (Some programs might have been preinstalled on your computer when you bought it.)
ALERT: Once you remove a program, the change is permanent--so if you're not sure about whether you'll need a particular program, do not remove it!
Next, click the big button on the left labeled Add/Remove Windows Components.This lists XP components that were automatically installed with Windows. Remove whatever components you don't need.
Eliminate fonts
If you're feeling up to it, clean out your fonts. Create a folder (maybe within My Documents) called Unused Fonts.Then use Windows Explorer to go to your C:\WINDOWS\FONTS folder, and drag any fonts you never use into that Unused Fonts folder. (You can double-click a font to see what it looks like.) Just moving those fonts will speed up some applications.
Clean your disk
Finally, let Windows find some more unused gunk.
From My Computer, right-click on your hard drive.
Choose Properties.
Click Disk Cleanup.
It will take a few moments to scan your disk for files you can delete. When it's done, click OK and then Yes (you do want to perform those actions).
Even though you may have uninstalled some programs, many of them leave residue in the Windows Registry, which Windows uses to store just about everything about your system. We'll work with that in a future lesson.
Clean the Registry
For now, let's just clean out anything that doesn't belong. There are a lot of Registry cleaners out there, and my favorite--because it's (a) easy to use and (b) free--is EasyCleaner.
Download and install it. When you start the program, you'll get a grid of 16 things from which to choose.
Click the Registry button.
Click the Find button on the bottom. EasyCleaner will search your Registry for the leftovers of old programs and other detritus. This could take several minutes.
When it's done, click the Delete All button. (You can't click it till it's finished.)
Click Yes to confirm you really want to delete the bad entries.
That's it! Click Close and let's move on.
Time to defrag
With all that cleaned out, it's time to defragment your hard drive.
When your computer stores files on your drive, it puts files in whatever empty space is available. The result is that over time individual files are actually split up and stored in several places on the drive. (Imagine a library where the different chapters of a book are on different shelves.) Defragmenting--often referred to as simply defragging puts those pieces together so your computer spends less time accessing files.
The procedure is simple:
First, shut down any running programs. Then disable your screen saver through your Control Panel by choosing Display (you may have to click Appearance and Themes first).
That done, go to My Computer and right-click on your hard drive.
Choose Properties, then click the Tools tab.
There you'll see Defragment Now.Click on it and then let the computer complete the process without any disturbance. This can take anywhere from minutes to hours, depending on the size of your drive and the level of fragmentation.
ALERT: During the defragging process, the PC cannot be used for anything else, and you should be especially careful not to accidentally turn it off. It's essential that this procedure run its course without interference, or data loss could occur.
When you're all done, check to see how much free space your drive now has (go to My Computer, right-click on the drive, and choose Properties). Hopefully you'll see a difference.
Continue To Lesson 3
In this lesson you'll learn how to clean up the data on your hard drive to make accessing files faster.
Hard disks run faster and more consistently when not completely filled. Having a large block of unused disk space is essential for both speed and stability. So it's useful to look through your hard disk and remove files that you no longer need (and you'll probably be surprised how many there are!). Before you begin, check how much space you currently have on your hard drive. To do this, open up My Computer, right-click on your hard disk's icon, choose Properties, and then make a note of how many gigabytes or megabytes of free space you have. Now go through your My Documents folder. Delete what you don't need, or if there's stuff you want just in case consider storing it on a CD, DVD, or second hard drive so your main drive doesn't have to wade through it.
Eliminate extra software
That done, continue your cleanup by getting rid of any software you don't use. Go to your Control Panel and select Add or Remove Programs.
A list of your installed software will appear. Scroll through it and remove anything you don¡¯t use anymore. (Some programs might have been preinstalled on your computer when you bought it.)
ALERT: Once you remove a program, the change is permanent--so if you're not sure about whether you'll need a particular program, do not remove it!
Next, click the big button on the left labeled Add/Remove Windows Components.This lists XP components that were automatically installed with Windows. Remove whatever components you don't need.
Eliminate fonts
If you're feeling up to it, clean out your fonts. Create a folder (maybe within My Documents) called Unused Fonts.Then use Windows Explorer to go to your C:\WINDOWS\FONTS folder, and drag any fonts you never use into that Unused Fonts folder. (You can double-click a font to see what it looks like.) Just moving those fonts will speed up some applications.
Clean your disk
Finally, let Windows find some more unused gunk.
From My Computer, right-click on your hard drive.
Choose Properties.
Click Disk Cleanup.
It will take a few moments to scan your disk for files you can delete. When it's done, click OK and then Yes (you do want to perform those actions).
Even though you may have uninstalled some programs, many of them leave residue in the Windows Registry, which Windows uses to store just about everything about your system. We'll work with that in a future lesson.
Clean the Registry
For now, let's just clean out anything that doesn't belong. There are a lot of Registry cleaners out there, and my favorite--because it's (a) easy to use and (b) free--is EasyCleaner.
Download and install it. When you start the program, you'll get a grid of 16 things from which to choose.
Click the Registry button.
Click the Find button on the bottom. EasyCleaner will search your Registry for the leftovers of old programs and other detritus. This could take several minutes.
When it's done, click the Delete All button. (You can't click it till it's finished.)
Click Yes to confirm you really want to delete the bad entries.
That's it! Click Close and let's move on.
Time to defrag
With all that cleaned out, it's time to defragment your hard drive.
When your computer stores files on your drive, it puts files in whatever empty space is available. The result is that over time individual files are actually split up and stored in several places on the drive. (Imagine a library where the different chapters of a book are on different shelves.) Defragmenting--often referred to as simply defragging puts those pieces together so your computer spends less time accessing files.
The procedure is simple:
First, shut down any running programs. Then disable your screen saver through your Control Panel by choosing Display (you may have to click Appearance and Themes first).
That done, go to My Computer and right-click on your hard drive.
Choose Properties, then click the Tools tab.
There you'll see Defragment Now.Click on it and then let the computer complete the process without any disturbance. This can take anywhere from minutes to hours, depending on the size of your drive and the level of fragmentation.
ALERT: During the defragging process, the PC cannot be used for anything else, and you should be especially careful not to accidentally turn it off. It's essential that this procedure run its course without interference, or data loss could occur.
When you're all done, check to see how much free space your drive now has (go to My Computer, right-click on the drive, and choose Properties). Hopefully you'll see a difference.
Continue To Lesson 3
6 Lessons To Speed Up Your Windows PC - Lesson 1
Lesson 1: The basics
In this lesson we'll look at a couple of simple and relatively quick things you can do to speed up your computer.
In this course, we'll zero in on some key ways you can make your PC run faster. Really.
When you first take a new PC out of the box, Windows comes with many default settings that can significantly slow down your system. Fortunately there are many ways you can adjust those settings to get more performance out of your machine. Sometimes you'll have to strike a balance between speed and looks, but in most cases there's no tradeoff--you simply need to change the way Windows works with your hardware and software.
Of course, making adjustments in Windows can be intimidating. But that's why you're here. We'll try to make this a simple, step-by-step process that anyone can do.
Memory boost
To start off, the single most important thing you can do to increase your computer's speed is to add RAM--random access memory. It's also the one thing in this course that will cost you money (but it's worth it).
Think of your hard drive as a big box full of puzzles and games, and your RAM is like a table where you can assemble puzzles and play games. The bigger the table, the more puzzles and games you can play with at once. Conversely, when you have a small table (limited memory), your hard disk is forced to serve as an artificial table (or virtual memory). This fake memory trick works fine, but it causes the computer to slow way down. So it's far better to have enough RAM so that your PC isn't forced to use its hard drive for virtual memory.
The price of memory has dropped dramatically in the last few years, making an upgrade an inexpensive way to get a big boost in performance.Adding or replacing RAM is relatively simple to do: You simply plug some chips into sockets on your computer's motherboard.
The challenge, however, is getting the correct memory module for your PC. Just about every computer is different. Some are already equipped with plenty of memory, while others have very little. And there are a lot of different types of memory, so you need to be sure to get the exact right module for your system.
Cut the graphics
Whether or not you choose to add memory, another easy way to speed up Windows XP is to change your graphics settings. The more gratuitous effects you use, the slower your computer will work. So let's reduce or eliminate them.
If you've used other versions of Windows, you know that XP has a very different look. Unfortunately, that look comes at the expense of some speed because it uses more graphics. So if you don¡¯t mind a simpler, no-nonsense interface, dump it and reclaim the power. Here's how:
Go to Control Panel and choose Display (you may have to click Appearance and Themes first).
On the Themes tab, change your current theme to Windows Classic, which uses fewer resources than the new look does. You can then click the Appearance tab and change that look to suit yourself.
We're not finished. Windows also uses its graphics power to provide all sorts of special effects--menus that fade, shadows under the mouse cursor, and so on. All of these effects sap performance. So Go into Control Panel and choose System (you may have to click Performance and Maintenance first).
Click the Advanced tab.
In the Performance box, click Settings.
You can now select Adjust for best performance, or you can choose Custom and play around with the settings. The more you uncheck, the less work your computer will have to do.
Browse files faster
Finally, a useful change to speed up your file browsing. When you open a folder or run Windows Explorer, Windows will automatically search your network for folders and printers you might want to access. That takes time, and is especially annoying if you don't need to access one at the time.
So let's tell Windows not to search for them unless you ask it to. Here's how:
Open My Computer.
Click the Tools menu.
Choose Folder Options.
Click the View tab.
Uncheck Automatically search for network folders and printers.
Click OK.
The next time you reboot your computer, browsing your folders should be a little faster.
We'll make them faster still in the next lesson, when we do some spring cleaning of your hard drive.
Continue to Lesson 2
In this lesson we'll look at a couple of simple and relatively quick things you can do to speed up your computer.
In this course, we'll zero in on some key ways you can make your PC run faster. Really.
When you first take a new PC out of the box, Windows comes with many default settings that can significantly slow down your system. Fortunately there are many ways you can adjust those settings to get more performance out of your machine. Sometimes you'll have to strike a balance between speed and looks, but in most cases there's no tradeoff--you simply need to change the way Windows works with your hardware and software.
Of course, making adjustments in Windows can be intimidating. But that's why you're here. We'll try to make this a simple, step-by-step process that anyone can do.
Memory boost
To start off, the single most important thing you can do to increase your computer's speed is to add RAM--random access memory. It's also the one thing in this course that will cost you money (but it's worth it).
Think of your hard drive as a big box full of puzzles and games, and your RAM is like a table where you can assemble puzzles and play games. The bigger the table, the more puzzles and games you can play with at once. Conversely, when you have a small table (limited memory), your hard disk is forced to serve as an artificial table (or virtual memory). This fake memory trick works fine, but it causes the computer to slow way down. So it's far better to have enough RAM so that your PC isn't forced to use its hard drive for virtual memory.
The price of memory has dropped dramatically in the last few years, making an upgrade an inexpensive way to get a big boost in performance.Adding or replacing RAM is relatively simple to do: You simply plug some chips into sockets on your computer's motherboard.
The challenge, however, is getting the correct memory module for your PC. Just about every computer is different. Some are already equipped with plenty of memory, while others have very little. And there are a lot of different types of memory, so you need to be sure to get the exact right module for your system.
Cut the graphics
Whether or not you choose to add memory, another easy way to speed up Windows XP is to change your graphics settings. The more gratuitous effects you use, the slower your computer will work. So let's reduce or eliminate them.
If you've used other versions of Windows, you know that XP has a very different look. Unfortunately, that look comes at the expense of some speed because it uses more graphics. So if you don¡¯t mind a simpler, no-nonsense interface, dump it and reclaim the power. Here's how:
Go to Control Panel and choose Display (you may have to click Appearance and Themes first).
On the Themes tab, change your current theme to Windows Classic, which uses fewer resources than the new look does. You can then click the Appearance tab and change that look to suit yourself.
We're not finished. Windows also uses its graphics power to provide all sorts of special effects--menus that fade, shadows under the mouse cursor, and so on. All of these effects sap performance. So Go into Control Panel and choose System (you may have to click Performance and Maintenance first).
Click the Advanced tab.
In the Performance box, click Settings.
You can now select Adjust for best performance, or you can choose Custom and play around with the settings. The more you uncheck, the less work your computer will have to do.
Browse files faster
Finally, a useful change to speed up your file browsing. When you open a folder or run Windows Explorer, Windows will automatically search your network for folders and printers you might want to access. That takes time, and is especially annoying if you don't need to access one at the time.
So let's tell Windows not to search for them unless you ask it to. Here's how:
Open My Computer.
Click the Tools menu.
Choose Folder Options.
Click the View tab.
Uncheck Automatically search for network folders and printers.
Click OK.
The next time you reboot your computer, browsing your folders should be a little faster.
We'll make them faster still in the next lesson, when we do some spring cleaning of your hard drive.
Continue to Lesson 2
10 Things You Should Do To Improve Every New Windows PC
Getting a new computer, even if it's only a new workstation at work, should be a happy experience. A new PC means more power, faster processing, and usually a better display. However, all new PCs could stand some tweaking to make them even better. This download lists 10 tweaks that should be made to every new Windows PC. These tweaks will bring out the best in your new PC and give you a solid foundation for future applications and operating system updates. Some of the suggested tweaks include:
Prepare the PC for the Internet
Configuring the file system
Turn on ClearType and adjust Desktop settings
10 tweaks
Getting a new PC, whether it is at work or at home, is one of those "makes you smile" moments. Just like the "6 Million Dollar Man" we all want better, stronger, and faster. However, every new PC that crosses your path is in need of a few tweaks. This document lists 10 enhancements you should make to every new PC, no matter whether it is a workstation or the family media computer. These tweaks will bring out the best in your new PC and give you a solid foundation for future applications and operating system updates.
1. Prepare it for the Internet
The first step should always be to implement the necessary security measures required for connecting it to the Internet. For office workstations and PCs installed by network administrators, much of this preliminary work will have already been done, but for home PCs these steps are essential. Connecting a new PC to the Internet before taking the proper security steps outlined in a previous TechRepublic article will be construed by the nefarious citizens of the Internet as an invitation to infect your PC with a virus, worm, or Trojan horse. The scariest part of that scenario: the infection is likely to take place within 12 minutes of connecting to the Internet.
2. Turn on ClearType and adjust Desktop settings
One of the first things I do when I sit down at a new Windows PC for the first time is activate the ClearType effect located on the Display Properties control panel. To get to the right control, open the Control Panel and then open the Display Properties control panel. From there, navigate to the Appearance tab and click the Effects button
Click the second check box for smoothing font edges and choose the ClearType option. Click OK a few times and you should see the fonts displayed much more crisply on the screen. For tired eyes, like mine, this can literally save you a few headaches, especially if you have to stare at a monitor screen all day. Once you install the Microsoft PowerToys you can adjust the ClearType settings to achieve a more personalized display. This is also where you would adjust the size of the Windows icons, choose whether to allow the screen contents to show while dragging, specify themes, and designate font style and size.
Those are all personal choices and will vary, but for those of us that look at the screen all day, these setting must be adjusted. One important thing I do is change the background color for text areas in Windows. The default is white, but that is often too bright for me. I change it to off white to reduce the intensity and the eye strain it causes. It is a small change, but I think it makes a big difference.
3. Configure file system
Sometimes large software companies like Microsoft take on a motherly role by configuring their software to protect us from ourselves. This is the case with the default manner in which the file system is displayed in Windows Explorer—system files are hidden, file extensions are hidden, and big icons are displayed instead of a detailed list. Some of these settings may be a matter of personal preference, but if you are going to truly know your PC and the Windows OS up and down, front to back, you will need to see all the information about a file displayed in every listing you see.
To set up the file display to your liking, open Windows Explorer and navigate to Tools Folder Options on the menu and then to the View tab. Next, you want to look down the list of checkboxes and radio buttons to find the one that says "Show hidden files and folders". I also recommend you click the checkboxes next to:
.. Display the contents of the system folders .. Display the full path in the address bar
You should also uncheck the boxes next to:
.. Hide extensions for know file types .. Hide protected operating system files
Revealing the protected OS system files can be dangerous if you are one who likes to delete files and ask questions later, but as long as you are careful, I think the benefits outweigh the risks. Once you get the folder view the way you want it, you should click the Apply to All Folders button to make the view common to all folders.
4. Set screen resolution and Hz and DPI
Once again, this suggestion may stem from my aging eyes, but the general concept is sound for all new PCs. Go to the Control Panel and open the Display Properties. While you may want to change the Appearance or activate a Screen Saver, my concern is with the Settings tab. The resolution determined by the install process (includes any OS) may not be the best resolution for your hardware or for your eyes. For LCD monitors, the resolution settings should match the native resolution of the monitor itself. The native resolution is easy to determine, it the maximum resolution the LCD monitor can actually display.
For CRT monitors, the resolution settings should be set to values that are most comfortable to your eyes. For monitor sizes of 17 inches or more that would most likely mean settings of at least 1024 X 768. However, the actual settings available are determined by your hardware, which includes not only the monitor but also the video card. Perhaps even more important than the resolution are the settings for Dots Per Inch (DPI) and the Screen Refresh Rate.
These controls are under the Advanced button of the Display Properties. The DPI, found under the General tab, determines how large the display fonts will be on a Windows PC. The default is 96 DPI, but at resolutions above 1024 X768 I prefer a DPI of 120. The Screen Refresh control is found under the Monitor tab. Your monitor will determine what settings are available here, but for CRTs I prefer a relatively high refresh rate of 85 Hz. Although you may not notice it, the monitor screen is constantly flickering. This flicker can give you a headache and make your eyes hurt if it is too slow, especially with CRTs. LCDs are a little different. They are usually limited to 60 Hz, but because they use a different technology, the strain to the eyes is much less pronounced.
5. Activate Windows
At some point during the setup process you will likely be asked to activate Windows. (Linux you would similarly be asked to register your particular distribution.) This is a good time to get that out of the way. Taking this step assures your operating system is legitimate and opens up a new set of support features including community forums and FAQs.
6. Copy over browser shortcuts
For many of us, our list of favorite Web sites is a reflection of our lives. It is more than a mere list of places on the Word Wide Web; it is our connection to a dynamic virtual world. However, once a link is placed into your browser, you don't really have to worry about remembering what can often be a cryptic URL. However, because you don't have to remember, you may actually forget what it is. This is why porting over your browser favorites is so important. It is a two step process. First, export your browser favorites to a file. In both Internet Explorer and Firefox, the Export nd Import features can be found under the File menu. Once you have exported to a file, copy that file to the new PC and then import that file to your browser of choice on the new PC.
7. Install needed applications
If your new PC is at work, chances are that all of the "necessary" applications are installed already. But for home PCs, there is still work to do. Everyone's idea of what applications should be installed is going to be a personal choice, but there are likely to be some selections common to us all. Here are some of the applications I have to install with each new PC:
.. Office Suite, including e-mail client .. Money, QuickBooks or some other money management application .. RSS Reader .. iTunes .. Graphics/Paint program beyond Paint for Windows .. VPN client (for connecting to the office) .. CD/DVD burning applications beyond what shipped with the PC .. HTML Editor .. Application developer IDE (often two—VS and Eclipse)
I'm sure you can think of some others. Of course there are always the entertainment applications like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty and Civilization.
8. Set up e-mail and home page
Now that you have your e-mail client and browser installed, it is time to configure them. Specifying the browser home page is an easy thing to do, but it is also quite necessary. The default home page for browsers is not where you want to go every time you fire it up. The e-mail client configuration will be dependent on the client application and the service provider. In Outlook, the configuration is under Tools E-mail Accounts, which starts a wizard that will walk you through the process.
9. Install PowerToys
One of the more important things you can do to enhance your new PC, especially if it is a Windows PC, is to install the Microsoft Windows XP PowerToys. These free applications can simplify your Windows PC life by making it easier to change default configurations, synchronize across computers, and manipulate files and photographs.
10. Save system and registry, back up
Once you have your new PC setup the way you like it, you take a few moments to backup your hard drive and save the system files and the registry. Taking these steps to establish a restore point now will create a new base configuration for your PC. This is a state you can return to if something goes wrong in the future.
Prepare the PC for the Internet
Configuring the file system
Turn on ClearType and adjust Desktop settings
10 tweaks
Getting a new PC, whether it is at work or at home, is one of those "makes you smile" moments. Just like the "6 Million Dollar Man" we all want better, stronger, and faster. However, every new PC that crosses your path is in need of a few tweaks. This document lists 10 enhancements you should make to every new PC, no matter whether it is a workstation or the family media computer. These tweaks will bring out the best in your new PC and give you a solid foundation for future applications and operating system updates.
1. Prepare it for the Internet
The first step should always be to implement the necessary security measures required for connecting it to the Internet. For office workstations and PCs installed by network administrators, much of this preliminary work will have already been done, but for home PCs these steps are essential. Connecting a new PC to the Internet before taking the proper security steps outlined in a previous TechRepublic article will be construed by the nefarious citizens of the Internet as an invitation to infect your PC with a virus, worm, or Trojan horse. The scariest part of that scenario: the infection is likely to take place within 12 minutes of connecting to the Internet.
2. Turn on ClearType and adjust Desktop settings
One of the first things I do when I sit down at a new Windows PC for the first time is activate the ClearType effect located on the Display Properties control panel. To get to the right control, open the Control Panel and then open the Display Properties control panel. From there, navigate to the Appearance tab and click the Effects button
Click the second check box for smoothing font edges and choose the ClearType option. Click OK a few times and you should see the fonts displayed much more crisply on the screen. For tired eyes, like mine, this can literally save you a few headaches, especially if you have to stare at a monitor screen all day. Once you install the Microsoft PowerToys you can adjust the ClearType settings to achieve a more personalized display. This is also where you would adjust the size of the Windows icons, choose whether to allow the screen contents to show while dragging, specify themes, and designate font style and size.
Those are all personal choices and will vary, but for those of us that look at the screen all day, these setting must be adjusted. One important thing I do is change the background color for text areas in Windows. The default is white, but that is often too bright for me. I change it to off white to reduce the intensity and the eye strain it causes. It is a small change, but I think it makes a big difference.
3. Configure file system
Sometimes large software companies like Microsoft take on a motherly role by configuring their software to protect us from ourselves. This is the case with the default manner in which the file system is displayed in Windows Explorer—system files are hidden, file extensions are hidden, and big icons are displayed instead of a detailed list. Some of these settings may be a matter of personal preference, but if you are going to truly know your PC and the Windows OS up and down, front to back, you will need to see all the information about a file displayed in every listing you see.
To set up the file display to your liking, open Windows Explorer and navigate to Tools Folder Options on the menu and then to the View tab. Next, you want to look down the list of checkboxes and radio buttons to find the one that says "Show hidden files and folders". I also recommend you click the checkboxes next to:
.. Display the contents of the system folders .. Display the full path in the address bar
You should also uncheck the boxes next to:
.. Hide extensions for know file types .. Hide protected operating system files
Revealing the protected OS system files can be dangerous if you are one who likes to delete files and ask questions later, but as long as you are careful, I think the benefits outweigh the risks. Once you get the folder view the way you want it, you should click the Apply to All Folders button to make the view common to all folders.
4. Set screen resolution and Hz and DPI
Once again, this suggestion may stem from my aging eyes, but the general concept is sound for all new PCs. Go to the Control Panel and open the Display Properties. While you may want to change the Appearance or activate a Screen Saver, my concern is with the Settings tab. The resolution determined by the install process (includes any OS) may not be the best resolution for your hardware or for your eyes. For LCD monitors, the resolution settings should match the native resolution of the monitor itself. The native resolution is easy to determine, it the maximum resolution the LCD monitor can actually display.
For CRT monitors, the resolution settings should be set to values that are most comfortable to your eyes. For monitor sizes of 17 inches or more that would most likely mean settings of at least 1024 X 768. However, the actual settings available are determined by your hardware, which includes not only the monitor but also the video card. Perhaps even more important than the resolution are the settings for Dots Per Inch (DPI) and the Screen Refresh Rate.
These controls are under the Advanced button of the Display Properties. The DPI, found under the General tab, determines how large the display fonts will be on a Windows PC. The default is 96 DPI, but at resolutions above 1024 X768 I prefer a DPI of 120. The Screen Refresh control is found under the Monitor tab. Your monitor will determine what settings are available here, but for CRTs I prefer a relatively high refresh rate of 85 Hz. Although you may not notice it, the monitor screen is constantly flickering. This flicker can give you a headache and make your eyes hurt if it is too slow, especially with CRTs. LCDs are a little different. They are usually limited to 60 Hz, but because they use a different technology, the strain to the eyes is much less pronounced.
5. Activate Windows
At some point during the setup process you will likely be asked to activate Windows. (Linux you would similarly be asked to register your particular distribution.) This is a good time to get that out of the way. Taking this step assures your operating system is legitimate and opens up a new set of support features including community forums and FAQs.
6. Copy over browser shortcuts
For many of us, our list of favorite Web sites is a reflection of our lives. It is more than a mere list of places on the Word Wide Web; it is our connection to a dynamic virtual world. However, once a link is placed into your browser, you don't really have to worry about remembering what can often be a cryptic URL. However, because you don't have to remember, you may actually forget what it is. This is why porting over your browser favorites is so important. It is a two step process. First, export your browser favorites to a file. In both Internet Explorer and Firefox, the Export nd Import features can be found under the File menu. Once you have exported to a file, copy that file to the new PC and then import that file to your browser of choice on the new PC.
7. Install needed applications
If your new PC is at work, chances are that all of the "necessary" applications are installed already. But for home PCs, there is still work to do. Everyone's idea of what applications should be installed is going to be a personal choice, but there are likely to be some selections common to us all. Here are some of the applications I have to install with each new PC:
.. Office Suite, including e-mail client .. Money, QuickBooks or some other money management application .. RSS Reader .. iTunes .. Graphics/Paint program beyond Paint for Windows .. VPN client (for connecting to the office) .. CD/DVD burning applications beyond what shipped with the PC .. HTML Editor .. Application developer IDE (often two—VS and Eclipse)
I'm sure you can think of some others. Of course there are always the entertainment applications like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty and Civilization.
8. Set up e-mail and home page
Now that you have your e-mail client and browser installed, it is time to configure them. Specifying the browser home page is an easy thing to do, but it is also quite necessary. The default home page for browsers is not where you want to go every time you fire it up. The e-mail client configuration will be dependent on the client application and the service provider. In Outlook, the configuration is under Tools E-mail Accounts, which starts a wizard that will walk you through the process.
9. Install PowerToys
One of the more important things you can do to enhance your new PC, especially if it is a Windows PC, is to install the Microsoft Windows XP PowerToys. These free applications can simplify your Windows PC life by making it easier to change default configurations, synchronize across computers, and manipulate files and photographs.
10. Save system and registry, back up
Once you have your new PC setup the way you like it, you take a few moments to backup your hard drive and save the system files and the registry. Taking these steps to establish a restore point now will create a new base configuration for your PC. This is a state you can return to if something goes wrong in the future.
10 things you should know about Windows XP's System Restore tool
Windows XP’s System Restore lets you restore your computer to a previous time if a problem occurs. To accomplish this feat, System Restore continuously monitors your system looking for significant changes to the operating system, such as an application or driver installation procedure, automatically creating a restore point when it detects an impending change. System Restore will also create restore points every 24 hours. Restore points are essentially snapshots of your system state, which comprises crucial system files including certain parts of the registry. System Restore maintains multiple restore points, which gives you the choice of restoring your computer to any number of previously saved states. Here are 10 things you should know about getting the most from Windows XP's System Restore tool.
1. Data files and System Restore
Because System Restore is described as a tool that allows you to restore your computer to a previous time, many people mistakenly assume that they will lose any data files they've created since the restore point was created. However, System Restore doesn't monitor or save the contents of the My Documents folder, any files that use common data filename extensions, such as .doc or .xls, e-mail message stores, browsing history, or even password files. Those files will remain intact when you restore your system. However, keep in mind that the Desktop is not a protected folder, and any files that exist there could be lost during a restore operation. So before you perform a restore operation, you should move any crucial files you have saved on the Desktop to the My Documents folder.
2. Undoing a restore operation
If you perform a restore operation and then determine that the problem still exists, you can undo the operation. To do so, you must immediately run System Restore. When you see the Welcome To System Restore screen, select the Undo My Last Restoration option and click Next. On the Confirm Restoration Undo screen, click Next. System Restore will restore the previous system state and restart the computer. When the system restarts and you log on, you'll see System Restore's Undo Complete screen, which lets you know the operation was successful. If you perform a restore operation and then determine that you selected the wrong restore point date, simply run System Restore again and select the restore point date you wanted.
If you perform a successful restore operation and discover that your computer won't boot Windows normally, you can still undo the restore operation. First, boot the system into Safe Mode. After you log on, a Warning dialog box will appear, allowing you to launch System Restore and select the Undo My Last Restoration option. If the restore operations fails, the Restoration Was Unsuccessful screen will appear, and your computer will automatically return to the same state it was in when you activated the restore operation. In other words, no changes will be made to your computer.
3. Running System Restore from a command prompt
If your computer won't boot Windows normally and won't boot into the Safe Mode GUI, you can still access System Restore. Start by booting the system using the Safe Mode With Command Prompt option. After you log on, type the following command line at the command prompt:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
Press [Enter], and System Restore will run as it normally does. You can follow the steps in the wizard to perform a restore operation.
4. Purging restore points
System Restore by default claims a maximum of 12 percent of the available hard disk space to save the restore points. (The amount of storage space will depend on the size of your hard disk.) Once the 12 percent mark is reached, System Restore will purge the oldest restore points in its database to make room for new ones. However, there may be situations where you need or want to purge restore points to free up disk space. Fortunately, the Disk Cleanup utility will allow you to delete all but the most recent restore point. You can launch Disk Cleanup from the Start All Programs Accessories System Tools menu. Once Disk Cleanup is up and running, select the More Options tab and click the Cleanup button in the System Restore panel. You'll then be prompted to confirm the delete operation.
5. Reining in System Restore's disk space usage
To perform its operations, System Restore requires at least 200 MB of available hard disk space. However, if more disk space is available, System Restore will claim up to 12 percent of it to save the restore points. Although System Restore can use that full 12 percent if it's available, this chunk of disk space is not reserved. System Restore will yield disk space back to the system if it's needed. Furthermore, restore points more than 90 days old are automatically purged by default.
If you want to see how much hard disk space System Restore has potentially set aside on your system, press [Windows][Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box and then choose the System Restore tab. Next, select your hard disk from the Available Drive list and click the Settings button. When the Drive Settings dialog box appears, you'll see a number in the Disk Space Usage panel that represents the amount of space in MB that System Restore is using to amass restore points.
For example, on a system with an 80GB hard disk, System Restore's 12% amounts to nearly 9 GB. If you feel that System Restore has the potential to take up too much disk space, move the slider to the left to specify a more reasonable amount of hard disk space for System Restore to store its multiple restore points.
6. Manually creating a restore point
System Restore will automatically create restore points, but you can manually create one anytime you want. To do so, launch System Restore and then follow along with the wizard. If want to save yourself a few steps, you can simplify the launching process by copying the System Restore shortcut from the Start All Programs Accessories System Tools menu to the desktop
7.Bypassing the System Restore Wizard
If you want to be able to manually create a restore point without having to go through the wizard, you can create a simple two-line VBScript file that uses WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) to instantly create a restore point. Just launch Notepad and type these two lines:
Set IRP = getobject("winmgmts:\\.\root\default:Systemrestore")
MYRP = IRP.createrestorepoint ("My Restore Point", 0, 100)
Then, save the file as MyRestorePoint.vbs. Now, you can easily create an restore point by double-clicking the script's icon. When you do, System Restore will run in the background without displaying its interface and will create a restore point called My Restore Point.
8. Steps to avoid restoring viruses
If you know that your system is infected by a virus, you should temporarily turn off System Restore. Otherwise, the virus could be saved along with other system files in a restore point and reintroduced to your system during a restore operation at a later date.
To turn off System Restore, press [Windows][Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box. Then, choose the System Restore tab, select the Turn Off System Restore check box, and click OK. As soon as you do, you'll see a confirmation dialog box warning you that turning off System Restore will delete all existing restore points. Click Yes to continue. You can now use your antivirus software to clean up your system. When the virus has been eradicated, access the System Restore tab again and clear the Turn Off System Restore check box. Click OK to re-enable System Restore.
9. Disabling System Restore for data drives
If you have additional hard disks connected to your computer, System Restore will automatically add them to its list of monitored drives. If these additional drives just store data or data backups, there's no reason to have System Restore monitor them.
To disable System Restore for data drives, press [Windows][Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box.
Then, choose the System Restore tab. Next, select your hard disk from the Available Drive list and click the Settings button. When the Drive Settings dialog box appears,
select the Turn Off System Restore On This Drive check box and click OK.
You'll see a confirmation dialog box warning that by turning off System Restore on this drive, you won't be able to track or undo harmful changes on it.
Click Yes to continue.
Then, click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
10. Determining the actual amount of space System Restore is using
You can easily determine how much disk space System Restore can potentially use, but you may also want to determine how much disk space System Restore is actually using. If you're running Windows XP Professional and the hard disk is using NTFS, you can find out. You'll begin by making a few configuration changes from an Administrator account that will allow you to investigate the hidden and protected folder called System Volume Information, located in the root directory of your hard disk. Keep in mind that this information is meant only for investigative purposes. Making any changes to the files in the System Volume Information folder will disrupt or otherwise damage System Restore's ability to do its job.
From within Windows Explorer, access the View tab of the Folder Options dialog box. Then, select the Show Hidden Files And Folders option, deselect the Hide Protected Operating System Files check box, and click Yes in the Warning dialog box. (If the system is in a workgroup, you'll need to deselect the Use Simple File Sharing check box as well.) Click OK to close the Folder Options dialog box. Now, access the root directory of the hard disk, right-click on the System Volume Information folder, select Properties, and access the Security tab. Then, click the Add button, enter your user account name in the Select Users or Groups dialog box, and click OK twice to close both dialog boxes.
At this point, you can open the System Volume Information folder, right-click on the _restore folder, and select Properties. Once Windows XP finishes tallying, check the Size On Disk value to see the exact amount of space System Restore is using for restore points. To ensure the security of the restore point files, you should remove your user account from the System Volume Information folder once you finish your investigation
1. Data files and System Restore
Because System Restore is described as a tool that allows you to restore your computer to a previous time, many people mistakenly assume that they will lose any data files they've created since the restore point was created. However, System Restore doesn't monitor or save the contents of the My Documents folder, any files that use common data filename extensions, such as .doc or .xls, e-mail message stores, browsing history, or even password files. Those files will remain intact when you restore your system. However, keep in mind that the Desktop is not a protected folder, and any files that exist there could be lost during a restore operation. So before you perform a restore operation, you should move any crucial files you have saved on the Desktop to the My Documents folder.
2. Undoing a restore operation
If you perform a restore operation and then determine that the problem still exists, you can undo the operation. To do so, you must immediately run System Restore. When you see the Welcome To System Restore screen, select the Undo My Last Restoration option and click Next. On the Confirm Restoration Undo screen, click Next. System Restore will restore the previous system state and restart the computer. When the system restarts and you log on, you'll see System Restore's Undo Complete screen, which lets you know the operation was successful. If you perform a restore operation and then determine that you selected the wrong restore point date, simply run System Restore again and select the restore point date you wanted.
If you perform a successful restore operation and discover that your computer won't boot Windows normally, you can still undo the restore operation. First, boot the system into Safe Mode. After you log on, a Warning dialog box will appear, allowing you to launch System Restore and select the Undo My Last Restoration option. If the restore operations fails, the Restoration Was Unsuccessful screen will appear, and your computer will automatically return to the same state it was in when you activated the restore operation. In other words, no changes will be made to your computer.
3. Running System Restore from a command prompt
If your computer won't boot Windows normally and won't boot into the Safe Mode GUI, you can still access System Restore. Start by booting the system using the Safe Mode With Command Prompt option. After you log on, type the following command line at the command prompt:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
Press [Enter], and System Restore will run as it normally does. You can follow the steps in the wizard to perform a restore operation.
4. Purging restore points
System Restore by default claims a maximum of 12 percent of the available hard disk space to save the restore points. (The amount of storage space will depend on the size of your hard disk.) Once the 12 percent mark is reached, System Restore will purge the oldest restore points in its database to make room for new ones. However, there may be situations where you need or want to purge restore points to free up disk space. Fortunately, the Disk Cleanup utility will allow you to delete all but the most recent restore point. You can launch Disk Cleanup from the Start All Programs Accessories System Tools menu. Once Disk Cleanup is up and running, select the More Options tab and click the Cleanup button in the System Restore panel. You'll then be prompted to confirm the delete operation.
5. Reining in System Restore's disk space usage
To perform its operations, System Restore requires at least 200 MB of available hard disk space. However, if more disk space is available, System Restore will claim up to 12 percent of it to save the restore points. Although System Restore can use that full 12 percent if it's available, this chunk of disk space is not reserved. System Restore will yield disk space back to the system if it's needed. Furthermore, restore points more than 90 days old are automatically purged by default.
If you want to see how much hard disk space System Restore has potentially set aside on your system, press [Windows][Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box and then choose the System Restore tab. Next, select your hard disk from the Available Drive list and click the Settings button. When the Drive Settings dialog box appears, you'll see a number in the Disk Space Usage panel that represents the amount of space in MB that System Restore is using to amass restore points.
For example, on a system with an 80GB hard disk, System Restore's 12% amounts to nearly 9 GB. If you feel that System Restore has the potential to take up too much disk space, move the slider to the left to specify a more reasonable amount of hard disk space for System Restore to store its multiple restore points.
6. Manually creating a restore point
System Restore will automatically create restore points, but you can manually create one anytime you want. To do so, launch System Restore and then follow along with the wizard. If want to save yourself a few steps, you can simplify the launching process by copying the System Restore shortcut from the Start All Programs Accessories System Tools menu to the desktop
7.Bypassing the System Restore Wizard
If you want to be able to manually create a restore point without having to go through the wizard, you can create a simple two-line VBScript file that uses WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) to instantly create a restore point. Just launch Notepad and type these two lines:
Set IRP = getobject("winmgmts:\\.\root\default:Systemrestore")
MYRP = IRP.createrestorepoint ("My Restore Point", 0, 100)
Then, save the file as MyRestorePoint.vbs. Now, you can easily create an restore point by double-clicking the script's icon. When you do, System Restore will run in the background without displaying its interface and will create a restore point called My Restore Point.
8. Steps to avoid restoring viruses
If you know that your system is infected by a virus, you should temporarily turn off System Restore. Otherwise, the virus could be saved along with other system files in a restore point and reintroduced to your system during a restore operation at a later date.
To turn off System Restore, press [Windows][Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box. Then, choose the System Restore tab, select the Turn Off System Restore check box, and click OK. As soon as you do, you'll see a confirmation dialog box warning you that turning off System Restore will delete all existing restore points. Click Yes to continue. You can now use your antivirus software to clean up your system. When the virus has been eradicated, access the System Restore tab again and clear the Turn Off System Restore check box. Click OK to re-enable System Restore.
9. Disabling System Restore for data drives
If you have additional hard disks connected to your computer, System Restore will automatically add them to its list of monitored drives. If these additional drives just store data or data backups, there's no reason to have System Restore monitor them.
To disable System Restore for data drives, press [Windows][Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box.
Then, choose the System Restore tab. Next, select your hard disk from the Available Drive list and click the Settings button. When the Drive Settings dialog box appears,
select the Turn Off System Restore On This Drive check box and click OK.
You'll see a confirmation dialog box warning that by turning off System Restore on this drive, you won't be able to track or undo harmful changes on it.
Click Yes to continue.
Then, click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
10. Determining the actual amount of space System Restore is using
You can easily determine how much disk space System Restore can potentially use, but you may also want to determine how much disk space System Restore is actually using. If you're running Windows XP Professional and the hard disk is using NTFS, you can find out. You'll begin by making a few configuration changes from an Administrator account that will allow you to investigate the hidden and protected folder called System Volume Information, located in the root directory of your hard disk. Keep in mind that this information is meant only for investigative purposes. Making any changes to the files in the System Volume Information folder will disrupt or otherwise damage System Restore's ability to do its job.
From within Windows Explorer, access the View tab of the Folder Options dialog box. Then, select the Show Hidden Files And Folders option, deselect the Hide Protected Operating System Files check box, and click Yes in the Warning dialog box. (If the system is in a workgroup, you'll need to deselect the Use Simple File Sharing check box as well.) Click OK to close the Folder Options dialog box. Now, access the root directory of the hard disk, right-click on the System Volume Information folder, select Properties, and access the Security tab. Then, click the Add button, enter your user account name in the Select Users or Groups dialog box, and click OK twice to close both dialog boxes.
At this point, you can open the System Volume Information folder, right-click on the _restore folder, and select Properties. Once Windows XP finishes tallying, check the Size On Disk value to see the exact amount of space System Restore is using for restore points. To ensure the security of the restore point files, you should remove your user account from the System Volume Information folder once you finish your investigation
10 Things You Can Do To Protect Your Data
When you think about it, the most valuable thing on your computer or network is the data you create. After all, that data is the reason for having the computer and network in the first place—and it’s the bits and bytes that make up that data that are your first priority when putting protective strategies in place. Operating systems and applications can always be reinstalled, but user-created data is unique and if lost, may be irreplaceable.
Some data is also confidential; not only do you not want to lose it, you don’t want others to even view it without authorization. Exposure of your social security number, credit card, and bank account information could subject you to identity theft. Company documents may contain trade secrets, personal information about employees or clients, or the organization’s financial records. Let’s look at some ways to protect your all-important user data from loss and/or unauthorized access.
1. Back up early and often
The single most important step in protecting your data from loss is to back it up regularly. How often should you back up? That depends—how much data can you afford to lose if your system crashes completely? A week’s work? A day’s work? An hour’s work? You can use the backup utility built into Windows (ntbackup.exe) to perform basic backups. You can use Wizard Mode to simplify the process of creating and restoring backups or you can configure the backup settings manually. You can also schedule backup jobs to be performed automatically.
There are also numerous third-party backup programs that can offer more sophisticated options. Whatever program you use, it’s important to store a copy of your backup offsite in case of fire, tornado, or other natural disaster that can destroy your backup tapes or discs along with the original data.
2. Use file-level and share-level security
To keep others out of your data, the first step is to set permissions on the data files and folders. If you have data in network shares, you can set share permissions to control what user accounts can and cannot access the files across the network. With Windows 2000/XP, this is done by clicking the Permissions button on the Sharing tab of the file’s or folder’s properties sheet.
However, these share-level permissions won’t apply to someone who is using the local computer on which the data is stored. If you share the computer with someone else, you’ll have to use file-level permissions (also called NTFS permissions, because they’re available only for files/folders stored on NTFS-formatted partitions). File-level permissions are set using the Security tab on the properties sheet and are much more granular than share-level permissions. In both cases, you can set permissions for either user accounts or groups and you can allow or deny various levels of access from read-only to full control.
3. Password-protect documents
Many productivity applications, such as Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Acrobat, will allow you to set passwords on individual documents. To open the document, you must enter the password. To password-protect a document in Microsoft Word 2003, go to Tools Options and click the Security tab. You can require a password to open the file and/or to make changes to it. You can also set the type of encryption to be used.
Unfortunately, Microsoft’s password protection is relatively easy to crack. There are programs on the market designed to recover Office passwords, such as Elcomsoft's Advanced Office Password Recovery (AOPR). This type of password protection, like a standard (non-deadbolt) lock on a door, will deter casual would-be intruders but can be fairly easily circumvented by a determined intruder with the right tools. You can also use zipping software such as WinZip or PKZip to compress and encrypt documents.
4. Use EFS encryption
Windows 2000, XP Pro, and Server 2003 support the Encrypting File System (EFS). You can use this built-in certificate-based encryption method to protect individual files and folders stored on NTFS-formatted partitions. Encrypting a file or folder is as easy as selecting a check box; just click the Advanced button on the General tab of its properties sheet. Note that you can’t use EFS encryption and NTFS compression at the same time.
EFS uses a combination of asymmetric and symmetric encryption, for both security and performance. To encrypt files with EFS, a user must have an EFS certificate, which can be issued by a Windows certification authority or self-signed if there is no CA on the network. EFS files can be opened by the user whose account encrypted them or by a designated recovery agent. With Windows XP/2003, but not Windows 2000, you can also designate other user accounts that are authorized to access your EFS-encrypted files.
Note that EFS is for protecting data on the disk. If you send an EFS file across the network and someone uses a sniffer to capture the data packets, they’ll be able to read the data in the files.
5. Use disk encryption
There are many third-party products available that will allow you to encrypt an entire disk. Whole disk encryption locks down the entire contents of a disk drive/partition and is transparent to the user. Data is automatically encrypted when it's written to the hard disk and automatically decrypted before being loaded into memory. Some of these programs can create invisible containers inside a partition that act like a hidden disk within a disk. Other users see only the data in the "outer" disk.
Disk encryption products can be used to encrypt removable USB drives, flash drives, etc. Some allow creation of a master password along with secondary passwords with lower rights you can give to other users. Examples include PGP Whole Disk Encryption and DriveCrypt, among many others.
6. Make use of a public key infrastructure
A public key infrastructure (PKI) is a system for managing public/private key pairs and digital certificates. Because keys and certificates are issued by a trusted third party (a certification authority, either an internal one installed on a certificate server on your network or a public one, such as Verisign), certificate-based security is stronger.
You can protect data you want to share with someone else by encrypting it with the public key of its intended recipient, which is available to anyone. The only person who will be able to decrypt it is the holder of the private key that corresponds to that public key.
7. Hide data with steganography
You can use a steganography program to hide data inside other data. For example, you could hide a text message within a .JPG graphics file or an MP3 music file, or even inside another text file (although the latter is difficult because text files don’t contain much redundant data that can be replaced with the hidden message). Steganography does not encrypt the message, so it’s often used in conjunction with encryption software. The data is encrypted first and then hidden inside another file with the steganography software.
Some steganographic techniques require the exchange of a secret key and others use public/private key cryptography. A popular example of steganography software is StegoMagic, a freeware download that will encrypt messages and hide them in .TXT, .WAV, or .BMP files.
8. Protect data in transit with IP security
Your data can be captured while it’s traveling over the network by a hacker with sniffer software (also called network monitoring or protocol analysis software). To protect your data when it’s in transit, you can use Internet Protocol Security (IPsec)—but both the sending and receiving systems have to support it. Windows 2000 and later Microsoft operating systems have built-in support for IPsec. Applications don’t have to be aware of IPsec because it operates at a lower level of the networking model.
Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) is the protocol IPsec uses to encrypt data for confidentiality. It can operate in tunnel mode, for gateway-to-gateway protection, or in transport mode, for end-to-end protection. To use IPsec in Windows, you have to create an IPsec policy and choose the authentication method and IP filters it will use. IPsec settings are configured through the properties sheet for the TCP/IP protocol, on the Options tab of Advanced TCP/IP Settings.
9. Secure wireless transmissions
Data that you send over a wireless network is even more subject to interception than that sent over an Ethernet network. Hackers don’t need physical access to the network or its devices; anyone with a wireless-enabled portable computer and a high gain antenna can capture data and/or get into the network and access data stored there if the wireless access point isn’t configured securely. You should send or store data only on wireless networks that use encryption, preferably Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which is stronger than Wired Equivalent Protocol (WEP).
10. Use rights management to retain control
If you need to send data to others but are worried about protecting it once it leaves your own system, you can use Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) to control what the recipients are able to do with it. For instance, you can set rights so that the recipient can read the Word document you sent but can’t change, copy, or save it. You can prevent recipients from forwarding e-mail messages you send them and you can even set documents or messages to expire on a certain date/time so that the recipient can no longer access them after that time.
To use RMS, you need a Windows Server 2003 server configured as an RMS server. Users need client software or an Internet Explorer add-in to access the RMS-protected documents. Users who are assigned rights also need to download a certificate from the RMS server.
Some data is also confidential; not only do you not want to lose it, you don’t want others to even view it without authorization. Exposure of your social security number, credit card, and bank account information could subject you to identity theft. Company documents may contain trade secrets, personal information about employees or clients, or the organization’s financial records. Let’s look at some ways to protect your all-important user data from loss and/or unauthorized access.
1. Back up early and often
The single most important step in protecting your data from loss is to back it up regularly. How often should you back up? That depends—how much data can you afford to lose if your system crashes completely? A week’s work? A day’s work? An hour’s work? You can use the backup utility built into Windows (ntbackup.exe) to perform basic backups. You can use Wizard Mode to simplify the process of creating and restoring backups or you can configure the backup settings manually. You can also schedule backup jobs to be performed automatically.
There are also numerous third-party backup programs that can offer more sophisticated options. Whatever program you use, it’s important to store a copy of your backup offsite in case of fire, tornado, or other natural disaster that can destroy your backup tapes or discs along with the original data.
2. Use file-level and share-level security
To keep others out of your data, the first step is to set permissions on the data files and folders. If you have data in network shares, you can set share permissions to control what user accounts can and cannot access the files across the network. With Windows 2000/XP, this is done by clicking the Permissions button on the Sharing tab of the file’s or folder’s properties sheet.
However, these share-level permissions won’t apply to someone who is using the local computer on which the data is stored. If you share the computer with someone else, you’ll have to use file-level permissions (also called NTFS permissions, because they’re available only for files/folders stored on NTFS-formatted partitions). File-level permissions are set using the Security tab on the properties sheet and are much more granular than share-level permissions. In both cases, you can set permissions for either user accounts or groups and you can allow or deny various levels of access from read-only to full control.
3. Password-protect documents
Many productivity applications, such as Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Acrobat, will allow you to set passwords on individual documents. To open the document, you must enter the password. To password-protect a document in Microsoft Word 2003, go to Tools Options and click the Security tab. You can require a password to open the file and/or to make changes to it. You can also set the type of encryption to be used.
Unfortunately, Microsoft’s password protection is relatively easy to crack. There are programs on the market designed to recover Office passwords, such as Elcomsoft's Advanced Office Password Recovery (AOPR). This type of password protection, like a standard (non-deadbolt) lock on a door, will deter casual would-be intruders but can be fairly easily circumvented by a determined intruder with the right tools. You can also use zipping software such as WinZip or PKZip to compress and encrypt documents.
4. Use EFS encryption
Windows 2000, XP Pro, and Server 2003 support the Encrypting File System (EFS). You can use this built-in certificate-based encryption method to protect individual files and folders stored on NTFS-formatted partitions. Encrypting a file or folder is as easy as selecting a check box; just click the Advanced button on the General tab of its properties sheet. Note that you can’t use EFS encryption and NTFS compression at the same time.
EFS uses a combination of asymmetric and symmetric encryption, for both security and performance. To encrypt files with EFS, a user must have an EFS certificate, which can be issued by a Windows certification authority or self-signed if there is no CA on the network. EFS files can be opened by the user whose account encrypted them or by a designated recovery agent. With Windows XP/2003, but not Windows 2000, you can also designate other user accounts that are authorized to access your EFS-encrypted files.
Note that EFS is for protecting data on the disk. If you send an EFS file across the network and someone uses a sniffer to capture the data packets, they’ll be able to read the data in the files.
5. Use disk encryption
There are many third-party products available that will allow you to encrypt an entire disk. Whole disk encryption locks down the entire contents of a disk drive/partition and is transparent to the user. Data is automatically encrypted when it's written to the hard disk and automatically decrypted before being loaded into memory. Some of these programs can create invisible containers inside a partition that act like a hidden disk within a disk. Other users see only the data in the "outer" disk.
Disk encryption products can be used to encrypt removable USB drives, flash drives, etc. Some allow creation of a master password along with secondary passwords with lower rights you can give to other users. Examples include PGP Whole Disk Encryption and DriveCrypt, among many others.
6. Make use of a public key infrastructure
A public key infrastructure (PKI) is a system for managing public/private key pairs and digital certificates. Because keys and certificates are issued by a trusted third party (a certification authority, either an internal one installed on a certificate server on your network or a public one, such as Verisign), certificate-based security is stronger.
You can protect data you want to share with someone else by encrypting it with the public key of its intended recipient, which is available to anyone. The only person who will be able to decrypt it is the holder of the private key that corresponds to that public key.
7. Hide data with steganography
You can use a steganography program to hide data inside other data. For example, you could hide a text message within a .JPG graphics file or an MP3 music file, or even inside another text file (although the latter is difficult because text files don’t contain much redundant data that can be replaced with the hidden message). Steganography does not encrypt the message, so it’s often used in conjunction with encryption software. The data is encrypted first and then hidden inside another file with the steganography software.
Some steganographic techniques require the exchange of a secret key and others use public/private key cryptography. A popular example of steganography software is StegoMagic, a freeware download that will encrypt messages and hide them in .TXT, .WAV, or .BMP files.
8. Protect data in transit with IP security
Your data can be captured while it’s traveling over the network by a hacker with sniffer software (also called network monitoring or protocol analysis software). To protect your data when it’s in transit, you can use Internet Protocol Security (IPsec)—but both the sending and receiving systems have to support it. Windows 2000 and later Microsoft operating systems have built-in support for IPsec. Applications don’t have to be aware of IPsec because it operates at a lower level of the networking model.
Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) is the protocol IPsec uses to encrypt data for confidentiality. It can operate in tunnel mode, for gateway-to-gateway protection, or in transport mode, for end-to-end protection. To use IPsec in Windows, you have to create an IPsec policy and choose the authentication method and IP filters it will use. IPsec settings are configured through the properties sheet for the TCP/IP protocol, on the Options tab of Advanced TCP/IP Settings.
9. Secure wireless transmissions
Data that you send over a wireless network is even more subject to interception than that sent over an Ethernet network. Hackers don’t need physical access to the network or its devices; anyone with a wireless-enabled portable computer and a high gain antenna can capture data and/or get into the network and access data stored there if the wireless access point isn’t configured securely. You should send or store data only on wireless networks that use encryption, preferably Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which is stronger than Wired Equivalent Protocol (WEP).
10. Use rights management to retain control
If you need to send data to others but are worried about protecting it once it leaves your own system, you can use Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) to control what the recipients are able to do with it. For instance, you can set rights so that the recipient can read the Word document you sent but can’t change, copy, or save it. You can prevent recipients from forwarding e-mail messages you send them and you can even set documents or messages to expire on a certain date/time so that the recipient can no longer access them after that time.
To use RMS, you need a Windows Server 2003 server configured as an RMS server. Users need client software or an Internet Explorer add-in to access the RMS-protected documents. Users who are assigned rights also need to download a certificate from the RMS server.
WinXP Tips and Tricks [Users Quick Reference]
Opening Ports or Adding Allowed Programs with SP2's Firewall
1.Click on Start / Run
2.Enter in firewall.cpl
3.Click on the Exceptions tab
Adding a Port for Internet Access:
1.Click on the Add Port button
2.Name it whatever you want
3.Enter in the ports you want to open
Adding a Program for Internet Access
1.Click on Add Program...
2.A list of all installed programs will be displayed
3.Highlight the one you want to include for Internet access
4.Click on the OK button
Autoexec.nt or Config.nt Errors
If you are getting errors similar to: The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application. Try copying the file from \windows\repair directory to the one that is in the \windows\system32 directory.
Common Control Panel Applets
The follow are some common Control Panel Applets that are located in the \windows\system32 directory. If you find yourself using any of these frequently, then you can simply make shortcuts to them on your desktop.
appwiz.cpl >>Add/Remove Programs
desk.cpl >> Display Properties
firewall.cpl >> Firewall Settings
inetcpl.cpl >> Internet Options
mmsys.cpl >> Sound and Audio
ncpa.cpl >> Network Connections
nusrmgr.cpl >> User Accounts
powercfg.cpl >> Power Options
sysdm.cpl >>System Properties
wscui.cpl >> Security Center
wuaucpl.cpl >> Automatic Updates Configuration
Windows Explorer Opens Search Companion Rather than the Folder If the Windows Explorer opens up the Search Companion rather than opening up the actual folder, the default setting for opening a folder is changed. To correct this:
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Directory \ shell
Edit the default value to be explorer or none
Guest Only Network Access
If you try and connect to an XP computer and are shown a logins screen with only the computername/Guest,
You may need to change one of the Local Security Policies:
Go to Control Panel - Administrative Tools
Go to Local Policies - Security Options
Check the Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts
Set it to Classic - local users authenticate as themselves
Hiding a XP Computer from Network Neighborhood
If you want to share files from a XP computer, yet want to remove it from showing up in the Network Neighborhood,
Run net config server /hidden:yes
Easy Way to Share Multiple Folders
If you need to share multiple folders, running the program SHRPUBW.EXE will bring up a simple dialog box to let you:
Browse to the folder you want to share
Enter in a Share name
Enter in a Share description Set permissions.
Several choices are available
Restart the process from within the same program
Not Viewing Zip Files as Folders
If you want to turn of WindowsXP showing Zip files as folders, just run: regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll
Setting Capslock, Numlock, Scroll Lock
If you want to set the startup state for any or all of these keys, you just need to edit the registry. Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Keyboard Open InitialKeyboardIndicators Change the value to one
of the following numbers
0 - All Keys off
1 - Caps Lock on
2 - Num Lock on
4 - Scroll Lock on
For multiple keys, add their values:
3 - Caps Lock and Num Lock on
5 - Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on
6 - Num Lock and Scroll Lock on
7 - Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on
Log off and back on again
Restoring Desktop Icon to the Quicklaunch Bar
If you mistakenly deleted the icon for the Desktop on the Quicklaunch toolbar Go to
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch (where user_name is replaced by your login name)
Create a Text file called ShowDesktop.SCF with the following contents: [Shell] Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop
Network Access After Norton Anti-Virus Install
Sometimes you can't access a WinXP computer after installing Norton Anti-Virus. There might be a variety of errors at the other computer depending on the operating system. On the XP computer, in the Event Viewer / System log, there will be the following error:
The server's configuration parameter "irpstacksize" is too small for the server to use a local device.
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters
Edit the IRPStackSize
Give it a value of 15
Reboot the computer
Configure for Auto-Logon
If you are the only person using the computer and what to have it automatically log you on,
Start / Run / "control userpasswords2" - no quotes
Cleaning the Prefetch Directory
WindowsXP has a new feature called Prefetch. This keeps a shortcut to recently used programs. However it can fill up with old and obsolete programs.
To clean this periodically go to:
Start / Run / Prefetch
Press Ctrl-A to highlight all the shorcuts
Delete them
Not Displaying Logon, Logoff, Startup and Shutdown Status Messages
To turn these off: Start Regedit Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
If it is not already there, create a DWORD value named DisableStatusMessages
Give it a value of 1
Repair Install
If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it to boot, you can do a Repair Install that might work as well as keep the current settings. Make sure you have your valid WindowsXP key.
The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer If you are being prompted for the administrator's password, you need to choose the 2nd repair option, not the first. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD At the second R=Repair option, press the R key This will start the repair Press F8 for I Agree at the Licensing Agreement Press R when the directory where WindowsXP is installed is shown.
Typically this is C:\WINDOWS It will then check the C: drive and start copying files It will automatically reboot when needed. Keep the CD in the drive. You will then see the graphic part of the repair that is like during a normal install of XP (Collecting Information, Dynamic Update, Preparing Installation, Installing Windows, Finalizing Installation) When prompted, click on the Next button When prompted, enter your XP key Normally you will want to keep the same Workgroup or Domain name The computer will reboot Then you will have the same screens as a normal XP Install Activate if you want (usually a good idea) Register if you want (but not necessary) Finish At this point you should be able to log in with any existing accounts.
NTOSKRNL Missing or Corrupt
If you get an error that NTOSKRNL not found:
Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
Change to the drive that has the CD ROM.
CD i386
expand ntkrnlmp.ex_ C:\Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe
If WindowsXP is installed in a different location, just make the necessary change to C:\Windows
Take out the CD ROM and type exit
HAL.DLL Missing or Corrupt
If you get an error regarding a missing or corrupt hal.dll file, it might simply be the BOOT.INI file on the root of the C: drive that is misconfigured Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
At the first R=Repair option, press the R key Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it Take out the CD ROM and type exit
Corrupted or Missing \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG
If you get the error:
Windows could not start because the following files is missing or corrupt
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM or
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE
Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
Enter in the administrator password when requested cd \windows\system32\config Depending on which section was corrupted: ren software software.bad or ren system system.bad Depending on which section was corrupted copy \windows\repair\system copy \windows\repair\software Take out the CD ROM and type exit
NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM Not Found
If you get an error that NTLDR is not found during bootup,
If you have FAT32 partitions, it is much simpler than with NTFS. Just boot with a Win98 floppy and copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files from the i386 directory to the root of the C:\ drive.
For NTFS: Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1 Enter in the administrator password when requested Enter in the following commands (X: is replaced by the actual drive letter that is assigned to the CD ROM drive. COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C\: COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:\ Take out the CD ROM and type exit
Bringing Up the Shutdown Dialog Box
Create a new txt file somewhere on your system, open it and put in this one line:
(new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows();
Save and Close the file.
Change the extension to js and your got it. You can make a shortcut to that file to make it easy to shut down your system.
Hiding the Last User Logged On
If you use the standard NT style of login and want to hide the last user: Start the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
Go to Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options Scroll down to Interactive logon:
Do not display last user name Set it to Enable
Poweroff at Shutdown
If your computer does not turn off the power when doing a shutdown, you may need to edit the registry. I have all the correct BIOS and Power settings and still needed to do this.
Start Regedit Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop Edit the key PowerOffActive and give it a value of 1 You can do the same in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
Remembering Folder Settings
If XP does not remember your folder settings, delete or rename the following registry keys:- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU] [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags]
Preventing Applications from Stealing the Focus
To prevent applications from stealing the focus from the window you are working
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop Edit the key ForegroundLockTimeout
Give it a value of 00030d40
Disable Explorer Thumbnail
View If you want disable the Explorer's ability to show the Thumbnail View ,
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced \ Change ClassicViewState to 1
Disable Shared Documents To
disable the Shared Documents folder that shows up on the network
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer \ Create a new DWORD Value Give it the name NoSharedDocuments
Give it a value of 1
Log off or reboot
Removing Thumbs.db
Files When viewing a folder with the Thumbnail view, WindowsXP creates a thumbs.db file.
This is a cache of the current pictures in that directory.
If you want to turn this feature off and save a little disk space
Start the Windows Explorer
Go to Tools / Folder Options / View
In the first section under Files and Folders, check Do not cache thumbnails
Now you can search for the thumbs.db file on your computer and remove them. No more should be created.
Enable / Disable the Task Manager
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Create the Dword value DisableTaskMgr
Give it a value of 0 to enable it
Give it a vaule of 1 to disable it
Clearing the Page File on Shutdown
Another way to set the computer to clear the pagefile without directly editing the registry is:
Click on the Start button
Go to the Control Panel Administrative Tools
Local Security Policy
Local Policies
Click on Security Options
Right hand menu - right click on Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile
Select Enable and Reboot
If you want to clear the page file on each shutdown:
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\ClearPageFileAtShutdown
Set the value to 1
No GUI Boot
If you don't need to see the XP boot logo,
Run MSCONFIG
Click on the BOOT.INI tab
Check the box for /NOGUIBOOT
Using the Classic Search in Explorer
If you prefer to use the classic search style in Explorer,
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState
Add a String Key called Use Search Asst
Give it a value of no
Changing Drive Letters
If you want to change the letters assigned to your fixed or removable drives:
Right Click on
My Computer
Select Manage
Select Disk Management
For a Fixed Disk:
Select it Right click Select Change Drive Letter and Path Click on the Edit button Enter in the letter you want to use For a Removable Disk: In the lower, right hand panel, right click on the Disk or CD ROM # Select Change Drive Letter and Path Click on the Edit button Enter in the letter you want to use
Changing the Registered Owner
Start Regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
From there you can edit the name in the Registered Owner key
Decreasing Boot Time
Microsoft has made available a program to analyze and decrease the time it takes to boot to WindowsXP.
The program is called BootVis.Uncompress the file.
Run BOOTVIS.EXE
For a starting point, run Trace / Next Boot + Driver Delays
This will reboot your computer and provide a benchmark
After the reboot, BootVis will take a minute or two to show graphs of your system startup.
Note how much time it takes for your system to load (click on the red vertical line) Then run Trace / Optimize System Re-Run the Next Boot + Drive Delays Note how much the time has decreased Mine went from approximately 39 to 30 seconds.
1.Click on Start / Run
2.Enter in firewall.cpl
3.Click on the Exceptions tab
Adding a Port for Internet Access:
1.Click on the Add Port button
2.Name it whatever you want
3.Enter in the ports you want to open
Adding a Program for Internet Access
1.Click on Add Program...
2.A list of all installed programs will be displayed
3.Highlight the one you want to include for Internet access
4.Click on the OK button
Autoexec.nt or Config.nt Errors
If you are getting errors similar to: The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application. Try copying the file from \windows\repair directory to the one that is in the \windows\system32 directory.
Common Control Panel Applets
The follow are some common Control Panel Applets that are located in the \windows\system32 directory. If you find yourself using any of these frequently, then you can simply make shortcuts to them on your desktop.
appwiz.cpl >>Add/Remove Programs
desk.cpl >> Display Properties
firewall.cpl >> Firewall Settings
inetcpl.cpl >> Internet Options
mmsys.cpl >> Sound and Audio
ncpa.cpl >> Network Connections
nusrmgr.cpl >> User Accounts
powercfg.cpl >> Power Options
sysdm.cpl >>System Properties
wscui.cpl >> Security Center
wuaucpl.cpl >> Automatic Updates Configuration
Windows Explorer Opens Search Companion Rather than the Folder If the Windows Explorer opens up the Search Companion rather than opening up the actual folder, the default setting for opening a folder is changed. To correct this:
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Directory \ shell
Edit the default value to be explorer or none
Guest Only Network Access
If you try and connect to an XP computer and are shown a logins screen with only the computername/Guest,
You may need to change one of the Local Security Policies:
Go to Control Panel - Administrative Tools
Go to Local Policies - Security Options
Check the Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts
Set it to Classic - local users authenticate as themselves
Hiding a XP Computer from Network Neighborhood
If you want to share files from a XP computer, yet want to remove it from showing up in the Network Neighborhood,
Run net config server /hidden:yes
Easy Way to Share Multiple Folders
If you need to share multiple folders, running the program SHRPUBW.EXE will bring up a simple dialog box to let you:
Browse to the folder you want to share
Enter in a Share name
Enter in a Share description Set permissions.
Several choices are available
Restart the process from within the same program
Not Viewing Zip Files as Folders
If you want to turn of WindowsXP showing Zip files as folders, just run: regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll
Setting Capslock, Numlock, Scroll Lock
If you want to set the startup state for any or all of these keys, you just need to edit the registry. Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Keyboard Open InitialKeyboardIndicators Change the value to one
of the following numbers
0 - All Keys off
1 - Caps Lock on
2 - Num Lock on
4 - Scroll Lock on
For multiple keys, add their values:
3 - Caps Lock and Num Lock on
5 - Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on
6 - Num Lock and Scroll Lock on
7 - Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on
Log off and back on again
Restoring Desktop Icon to the Quicklaunch Bar
If you mistakenly deleted the icon for the Desktop on the Quicklaunch toolbar Go to
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch (where user_name is replaced by your login name)
Create a Text file called ShowDesktop.SCF with the following contents: [Shell] Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop
Network Access After Norton Anti-Virus Install
Sometimes you can't access a WinXP computer after installing Norton Anti-Virus. There might be a variety of errors at the other computer depending on the operating system. On the XP computer, in the Event Viewer / System log, there will be the following error:
The server's configuration parameter "irpstacksize" is too small for the server to use a local device.
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters
Edit the IRPStackSize
Give it a value of 15
Reboot the computer
Configure for Auto-Logon
If you are the only person using the computer and what to have it automatically log you on,
Start / Run / "control userpasswords2" - no quotes
Cleaning the Prefetch Directory
WindowsXP has a new feature called Prefetch. This keeps a shortcut to recently used programs. However it can fill up with old and obsolete programs.
To clean this periodically go to:
Start / Run / Prefetch
Press Ctrl-A to highlight all the shorcuts
Delete them
Not Displaying Logon, Logoff, Startup and Shutdown Status Messages
To turn these off: Start Regedit Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
If it is not already there, create a DWORD value named DisableStatusMessages
Give it a value of 1
Repair Install
If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it to boot, you can do a Repair Install that might work as well as keep the current settings. Make sure you have your valid WindowsXP key.
The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer If you are being prompted for the administrator's password, you need to choose the 2nd repair option, not the first. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD At the second R=Repair option, press the R key This will start the repair Press F8 for I Agree at the Licensing Agreement Press R when the directory where WindowsXP is installed is shown.
Typically this is C:\WINDOWS It will then check the C: drive and start copying files It will automatically reboot when needed. Keep the CD in the drive. You will then see the graphic part of the repair that is like during a normal install of XP (Collecting Information, Dynamic Update, Preparing Installation, Installing Windows, Finalizing Installation) When prompted, click on the Next button When prompted, enter your XP key Normally you will want to keep the same Workgroup or Domain name The computer will reboot Then you will have the same screens as a normal XP Install Activate if you want (usually a good idea) Register if you want (but not necessary) Finish At this point you should be able to log in with any existing accounts.
NTOSKRNL Missing or Corrupt
If you get an error that NTOSKRNL not found:
Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
Change to the drive that has the CD ROM.
CD i386
expand ntkrnlmp.ex_ C:\Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe
If WindowsXP is installed in a different location, just make the necessary change to C:\Windows
Take out the CD ROM and type exit
HAL.DLL Missing or Corrupt
If you get an error regarding a missing or corrupt hal.dll file, it might simply be the BOOT.INI file on the root of the C: drive that is misconfigured Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
At the first R=Repair option, press the R key Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it Take out the CD ROM and type exit
Corrupted or Missing \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG
If you get the error:
Windows could not start because the following files is missing or corrupt
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM or
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE
Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
Enter in the administrator password when requested cd \windows\system32\config Depending on which section was corrupted: ren software software.bad or ren system system.bad Depending on which section was corrupted copy \windows\repair\system copy \windows\repair\software Take out the CD ROM and type exit
NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM Not Found
If you get an error that NTLDR is not found during bootup,
If you have FAT32 partitions, it is much simpler than with NTFS. Just boot with a Win98 floppy and copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files from the i386 directory to the root of the C:\ drive.
For NTFS: Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1 Enter in the administrator password when requested Enter in the following commands (X: is replaced by the actual drive letter that is assigned to the CD ROM drive. COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C\: COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:\ Take out the CD ROM and type exit
Bringing Up the Shutdown Dialog Box
Create a new txt file somewhere on your system, open it and put in this one line:
(new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows();
Save and Close the file.
Change the extension to js and your got it. You can make a shortcut to that file to make it easy to shut down your system.
Hiding the Last User Logged On
If you use the standard NT style of login and want to hide the last user: Start the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
Go to Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options Scroll down to Interactive logon:
Do not display last user name Set it to Enable
Poweroff at Shutdown
If your computer does not turn off the power when doing a shutdown, you may need to edit the registry. I have all the correct BIOS and Power settings and still needed to do this.
Start Regedit Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop Edit the key PowerOffActive and give it a value of 1 You can do the same in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
Remembering Folder Settings
If XP does not remember your folder settings, delete or rename the following registry keys:- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU] [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags]
Preventing Applications from Stealing the Focus
To prevent applications from stealing the focus from the window you are working
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop Edit the key ForegroundLockTimeout
Give it a value of 00030d40
Disable Explorer Thumbnail
View If you want disable the Explorer's ability to show the Thumbnail View ,
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced \ Change ClassicViewState to 1
Disable Shared Documents To
disable the Shared Documents folder that shows up on the network
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer \ Create a new DWORD Value Give it the name NoSharedDocuments
Give it a value of 1
Log off or reboot
Removing Thumbs.db
Files When viewing a folder with the Thumbnail view, WindowsXP creates a thumbs.db file.
This is a cache of the current pictures in that directory.
If you want to turn this feature off and save a little disk space
Start the Windows Explorer
Go to Tools / Folder Options / View
In the first section under Files and Folders, check Do not cache thumbnails
Now you can search for the thumbs.db file on your computer and remove them. No more should be created.
Enable / Disable the Task Manager
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Create the Dword value DisableTaskMgr
Give it a value of 0 to enable it
Give it a vaule of 1 to disable it
Clearing the Page File on Shutdown
Another way to set the computer to clear the pagefile without directly editing the registry is:
Click on the Start button
Go to the Control Panel Administrative Tools
Local Security Policy
Local Policies
Click on Security Options
Right hand menu - right click on Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile
Select Enable and Reboot
If you want to clear the page file on each shutdown:
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\ClearPageFileAtShutdown
Set the value to 1
No GUI Boot
If you don't need to see the XP boot logo,
Run MSCONFIG
Click on the BOOT.INI tab
Check the box for /NOGUIBOOT
Using the Classic Search in Explorer
If you prefer to use the classic search style in Explorer,
Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState
Add a String Key called Use Search Asst
Give it a value of no
Changing Drive Letters
If you want to change the letters assigned to your fixed or removable drives:
Right Click on
My Computer
Select Manage
Select Disk Management
For a Fixed Disk:
Select it Right click Select Change Drive Letter and Path Click on the Edit button Enter in the letter you want to use For a Removable Disk: In the lower, right hand panel, right click on the Disk or CD ROM # Select Change Drive Letter and Path Click on the Edit button Enter in the letter you want to use
Changing the Registered Owner
Start Regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
From there you can edit the name in the Registered Owner key
Decreasing Boot Time
Microsoft has made available a program to analyze and decrease the time it takes to boot to WindowsXP.
The program is called BootVis.Uncompress the file.
Run BOOTVIS.EXE
For a starting point, run Trace / Next Boot + Driver Delays
This will reboot your computer and provide a benchmark
After the reboot, BootVis will take a minute or two to show graphs of your system startup.
Note how much time it takes for your system to load (click on the red vertical line) Then run Trace / Optimize System Re-Run the Next Boot + Drive Delays Note how much the time has decreased Mine went from approximately 39 to 30 seconds.
"Task Manager Has Been Dsabled By Your Administrator" error message
SYMPTOMS
When you try to open Windows Task Manger, the following error may appear: "Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator".
CAUSE
There following :
1. You use account that was blocked via the Local Group Policy or Domain Group Policy. 2. Some registry settings block you from using Task Manager. This error is caused by restrictions placed in Registry. DisableTaskMgr value is set to 1. To enable Task Manager, try any of these methods:
RESOLUTION
1. Verity that the Local Group Policy or Domain Group Policy doesn’t block you from using Task Manager.
1.1 Local Group Policy
a. Go to Start -> Run -> Write Gpedit.msc and press on Enter button.
b. Navigate to "User Configuration" -> dministrative Templates ->System ->Ctrl+Alt+Del Options
c. In the right side of the screen verity that Remove Task Manager option set to Disable or Not Configured.
d. Close Gpedit.msc MMC.
e. Go to Start -> Run -> Write gpupdate /force and press on Enter button.
Note: If you are using Windows 2000, please follow KB q227302 instead stage e.
Using SECEDIT to Force a Group Policy Refresh Immediately
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q227302/
1.2 Domain Group Policy
a. Contact you local IT support team.
2. Verify correct registry settings:
a. Go to Start -> Run -> Write regedit and press on Enter button.
Warning: Modifying your registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system.
Always backup your files before doing this registry hack.
b. Navigate to the following registry keys and verity that following settings set to default:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]"DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]"DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system\]"DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]"DisableCAD"=dword:00000000
c. Reboot the computer.
3. Click Start, Run and type this command exactly as given below: (better - Copy and paste):
REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
4. Download and run this REG fix and double-click it
5 Using Group Policy Editor - for Windows XP Professional Click Start, Run, type gpedit.msc and click OK.
Navigate to this path
User Configuration=> Administrative Templates==> System===> Ctrl+Alt+Delete Options====> Remove Task Manager
Double-click the Remove Task Manager option.
Set the policy to Not Configured.
When you try to open Windows Task Manger, the following error may appear: "Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator".
CAUSE
There following :
1. You use account that was blocked via the Local Group Policy or Domain Group Policy. 2. Some registry settings block you from using Task Manager. This error is caused by restrictions placed in Registry. DisableTaskMgr value is set to 1. To enable Task Manager, try any of these methods:
RESOLUTION
1. Verity that the Local Group Policy or Domain Group Policy doesn’t block you from using Task Manager.
1.1 Local Group Policy
a. Go to Start -> Run -> Write Gpedit.msc and press on Enter button.
b. Navigate to "User Configuration" -> dministrative Templates ->System ->Ctrl+Alt+Del Options
c. In the right side of the screen verity that Remove Task Manager option set to Disable or Not Configured.
d. Close Gpedit.msc MMC.
e. Go to Start -> Run -> Write gpupdate /force and press on Enter button.
Note: If you are using Windows 2000, please follow KB q227302 instead stage e.
Using SECEDIT to Force a Group Policy Refresh Immediately
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q227302/
1.2 Domain Group Policy
a. Contact you local IT support team.
2. Verify correct registry settings:
a. Go to Start -> Run -> Write regedit and press on Enter button.
Warning: Modifying your registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system.
Always backup your files before doing this registry hack.
b. Navigate to the following registry keys and verity that following settings set to default:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]"DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]"DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system\]"DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]"DisableCAD"=dword:00000000
c. Reboot the computer.
3. Click Start, Run and type this command exactly as given below: (better - Copy and paste):
REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
4. Download and run this REG fix and double-click it
5 Using Group Policy Editor - for Windows XP Professional Click Start, Run, type gpedit.msc and click OK.
Navigate to this path
User Configuration=> Administrative Templates==> System===> Ctrl+Alt+Delete Options====> Remove Task Manager
Double-click the Remove Task Manager option.
Set the policy to Not Configured.
How To Create DIVX Movie
Nowadays movies are becoming one of the best source of entertainment which can be obtained on the net. One big problem with it is the size which is extremely big. For instance a full 2 hour movie can range from 1.4 Gig in VCD format and around 4 Gig in DVD format. So the best form of distribution or even a method of making backup of movies is to compress them into a video format which is watch able and also small is size. The best format is DIVX AVI. It provides good quality with small sized files and now can even be played back from your standalone DVD or VCD player. Creating the DIVX movie is simple, if you have the correct tools.
Firstly you will need the DIVX codec for the movie. You can obtain it from www.divx.com . Secondly you will need a tool to convert the movie, i would recommend Virtual Dub, which can be obtained from www.virtualdub.org . Install both softwares and your almost there.
Open up virtual dub, load the movie you want to convert to DIVX. In the audio menu, choose full processing, then compression and then choose MP3. You may also try other audio formats if you want, depending on what file size you want your divx to be. Secondly same way, choose Video menu, then full processing, then compression, then choose DIVX codec as the codec of conversion. Click on codec settings and set it to be 780 (default),this would make your movie half the size (file size). Then choose save as AVI and your done.
Different settings will make the file size/quality vary. So try and stick to which suits you the best
Firstly you will need the DIVX codec for the movie. You can obtain it from www.divx.com . Secondly you will need a tool to convert the movie, i would recommend Virtual Dub, which can be obtained from www.virtualdub.org . Install both softwares and your almost there.
Open up virtual dub, load the movie you want to convert to DIVX. In the audio menu, choose full processing, then compression and then choose MP3. You may also try other audio formats if you want, depending on what file size you want your divx to be. Secondly same way, choose Video menu, then full processing, then compression, then choose DIVX codec as the codec of conversion. Click on codec settings and set it to be 780 (default),this would make your movie half the size (file size). Then choose save as AVI and your done.
Different settings will make the file size/quality vary. So try and stick to which suits you the best
Copy a full DVD movie On 1 single Disk
This FAQ will tell you how to copy a full DVD film onto one disk, with excellent video quality and sound. But before I get started you must have these programs in order to do it because without these you cannot do it cheaply, basically you would have to buy a dvd ripper and some very expensive disks. Programs needed:
· Dvd to Mpeg squeezer.
· Panasonic Plugins.
· Xing encoder and Xing player (Xing player optional as windows player can run them).
You will probably find them at DVDSoft.net. Once you have installed (here's help) all these programs correctly you have to apply the appropriate settings.
1. Before you start the Dvd to Mpeg squeezer you have to initialize the encoder, then when the box appears you have to click on options.
2. Click on the capture settings box.
3. The frame rate must be 23.976fps.
4. Maximum frame number must be set at 300,000.
5. Leave a tick in the stop capturing by title change.
6. Leaving a tick in add bands is optional as this is for the zoom function.
7. No ticks in the other 2 boxes.
8. Resize filter set to BiCubic filter.
9. Interpolation mode set to No Interpolation.
10. Then come out of that menu and go into MPV settings.
11. This is the main part of the rip and you must get these settings exact or it will not fit on one disk.
12. The Data Rate (kbits/sec) Video must be set to 600kbits/sec delete the number what's in and put that one in the Video. The Audio must read 224 and the System must say 824 and the Stream format must be MPEG1.
13. Noise Reduction must be set to: Medium. Video filter must be set to: Adaptive.Level must be set to: Strongest.Color tone optional but I set it to TV.
These are the settings for a full film rip and full match source taken from a Dvd. This is the amount of film you can put on: 1. 650 meg disk equals to 106 minutes of 2. 700 meg disk equals to 116 minutes of film. Now if a film is longer than 116 minutes you will have to encode the film at a lower meg rate. To do this you will have to encode the ripped Dvd down to an NTSC rip or even lower down to a PAL rip. This should put any film onto 1 disk then, but this will still be a very good quality.
If you encode a film even lower than PAL say a 384k rip you could get up to 4 hours of film on 1 disk but the quality of the film degrades drastically but watch able from 7 feet away. This FAQ was written by Bigpluter and can be modified only by someone who has got a littlepluter, but if you do let me know ok.
video: 640*320 (for widescreen)at 600kbit/s DivX lowmotion with a keyframe every 3 secs. bilinear filtering. and
Audio: 112 kbit/s mp3 and you're all set..I choose DivX low motion because of the nature of the films I usually back up, but fastmotion could be applied as well. sure the quality of mpeg is good, because of the frequency of keyframes, (1/15 I think..) but the problem is the bicubic filtering, and the rescaling to 352*X it's just not too cool.. theres a version of flaskmpeg out there with DeCss built in.. that means you can rip directly from the DVD instead of having to copy it to the HD.
· Dvd to Mpeg squeezer.
· Panasonic Plugins.
· Xing encoder and Xing player (Xing player optional as windows player can run them).
You will probably find them at DVDSoft.net. Once you have installed (here's help) all these programs correctly you have to apply the appropriate settings.
1. Before you start the Dvd to Mpeg squeezer you have to initialize the encoder, then when the box appears you have to click on options.
2. Click on the capture settings box.
3. The frame rate must be 23.976fps.
4. Maximum frame number must be set at 300,000.
5. Leave a tick in the stop capturing by title change.
6. Leaving a tick in add bands is optional as this is for the zoom function.
7. No ticks in the other 2 boxes.
8. Resize filter set to BiCubic filter.
9. Interpolation mode set to No Interpolation.
10. Then come out of that menu and go into MPV settings.
11. This is the main part of the rip and you must get these settings exact or it will not fit on one disk.
12. The Data Rate (kbits/sec) Video must be set to 600kbits/sec delete the number what's in and put that one in the Video. The Audio must read 224 and the System must say 824 and the Stream format must be MPEG1.
13. Noise Reduction must be set to: Medium. Video filter must be set to: Adaptive.Level must be set to: Strongest.Color tone optional but I set it to TV.
These are the settings for a full film rip and full match source taken from a Dvd. This is the amount of film you can put on: 1. 650 meg disk equals to 106 minutes of 2. 700 meg disk equals to 116 minutes of film. Now if a film is longer than 116 minutes you will have to encode the film at a lower meg rate. To do this you will have to encode the ripped Dvd down to an NTSC rip or even lower down to a PAL rip. This should put any film onto 1 disk then, but this will still be a very good quality.
If you encode a film even lower than PAL say a 384k rip you could get up to 4 hours of film on 1 disk but the quality of the film degrades drastically but watch able from 7 feet away. This FAQ was written by Bigpluter and can be modified only by someone who has got a littlepluter, but if you do let me know ok.
video: 640*320 (for widescreen)at 600kbit/s DivX lowmotion with a keyframe every 3 secs. bilinear filtering. and
Audio: 112 kbit/s mp3 and you're all set..I choose DivX low motion because of the nature of the films I usually back up, but fastmotion could be applied as well. sure the quality of mpeg is good, because of the frequency of keyframes, (1/15 I think..) but the problem is the bicubic filtering, and the rescaling to 352*X it's just not too cool.. theres a version of flaskmpeg out there with DeCss built in.. that means you can rip directly from the DVD instead of having to copy it to the HD.
Problem "Cant Edit IE Homepage"
For windows XP
If you could not run REGEDIT program, then use a third party software to edit registry. I recommend Registryworkshop .
1. Internet Explorer's Homepage Can't Be Edited
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\POLICIES\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\CONTROL PANEL\CHANGE VALUE FOR HOMEPAGE TO 0 (ZERO)
2. Can't Run Regedit
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\POLICIES\SYSTEM\CHANGE VALUE FOR DISABLEREGISTRYTOOLS TO 0 (ZERO)
If you could not run REGEDIT program, then use a third party software to edit registry. I recommend Registryworkshop .
1. Internet Explorer's Homepage Can't Be Edited
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\POLICIES\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\CONTROL PANEL\CHANGE VALUE FOR HOMEPAGE TO 0 (ZERO)
2. Can't Run Regedit
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\POLICIES\SYSTEM\CHANGE VALUE FOR DISABLEREGISTRYTOOLS TO 0 (ZERO)
Windows XP Tips And Tricks
With Windows XP, you can run programs as if though they were being run under a different operating system. (This is known as "emulation".) Simply right-click a shortcut, select "Properties" and then check "Run in
compatibility mode" and select the operating system you wish to make the program believe it is being run under. This fools or tricks the program into thinking you are really using a previous version of Windows, such as NT, 2000, 98, or 95. This is especially useful for certain games that won't run properly. Be careful *not* to use this with certain system utilities, such as antivirus, defrag, registry, and disk tool applications.
Customizing the Start Menu
Right click on the "Start" button and left click "Properties". From here, you can select the new Windows XP style Start Menu, or return to the Windows 2000/Millennium style one. You can also customize the two possible choices using their corresponding "Customize" buttons. This also allows you to turn on or disable cascading menus and other options that are useful, such as large or small icons and more.
Bring Back Those Desktop Icons
After you install Windows XP, you probably noticed that some of your icons from previous versions of Windows you've used are missing. Microsoft did this intentionally to help simply and reduce clutter. Of course, for some people, this isn't the best choice or the user preference. So, if you want those icons
like "My Computer" and "My Network Places" back, just open Display Properties (right click Desktop Wallpaper, left click "Properties") and click the "Desktop" tab. Click the "Customize Desktop" button and on the "General" tab check the items you want. You can also change the icons used by these desktop items in the same screen. One final tip related to this screen is the "Clean Desktop Now" button, which notifies you of unused icons on the desktop and offers to remove them if you choose.
Give Me My ClearType
Windows XP includes a great new visual technology, called "ClearType" which increases horizontal legibility by approximately 300% and it looks great. Go back into "Display Properties" [see tip: "Bring Back Those Desktop Icons" for instructions] and this time, go to the "Appearance" tab. Click "Effects" and for the second drop down box, labeled "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts", select "ClearType". Click OK twice and you're all set.
Lock Computer vs. Welcome Login Screen
You must go into Control Panel and open the "User Accounts" applet to change this setting. Click "Change the way users log on or off". For maximum security, uncheck the "Use the Welcome screen" option. This re-enables the use of the "Lock Computer" option from the ALT CTRL DELETE menu, but prevents multiple users from being logged on locally at a single time. This also returns to the Windows 2000 style login screen. If you'd rather have the ability to *not* be able to use "Lock Computer" and would rather allow multiple users to logon to the computer at a single time locally, leave this setting checked and also check "Use Fast User Switching".
Looking for a Windows XP Compatible Driver?
If you can't find a driver for a hardware device under Windows XP, you can try to use a Windows 2000 compatible driver for the same hardware. Usually this tends to work, and in my experience so far, it always has. However, if you can find a driver specifically designed for use with Windows XP, that is usually the best and safest option. You can also e-mail the hardware manufacturer and ask them about Windows XP compatibility and drivers.
compatibility mode" and select the operating system you wish to make the program believe it is being run under. This fools or tricks the program into thinking you are really using a previous version of Windows, such as NT, 2000, 98, or 95. This is especially useful for certain games that won't run properly. Be careful *not* to use this with certain system utilities, such as antivirus, defrag, registry, and disk tool applications.
Customizing the Start Menu
Right click on the "Start" button and left click "Properties". From here, you can select the new Windows XP style Start Menu, or return to the Windows 2000/Millennium style one. You can also customize the two possible choices using their corresponding "Customize" buttons. This also allows you to turn on or disable cascading menus and other options that are useful, such as large or small icons and more.
Bring Back Those Desktop Icons
After you install Windows XP, you probably noticed that some of your icons from previous versions of Windows you've used are missing. Microsoft did this intentionally to help simply and reduce clutter. Of course, for some people, this isn't the best choice or the user preference. So, if you want those icons
like "My Computer" and "My Network Places" back, just open Display Properties (right click Desktop Wallpaper, left click "Properties") and click the "Desktop" tab. Click the "Customize Desktop" button and on the "General" tab check the items you want. You can also change the icons used by these desktop items in the same screen. One final tip related to this screen is the "Clean Desktop Now" button, which notifies you of unused icons on the desktop and offers to remove them if you choose.
Give Me My ClearType
Windows XP includes a great new visual technology, called "ClearType" which increases horizontal legibility by approximately 300% and it looks great. Go back into "Display Properties" [see tip: "Bring Back Those Desktop Icons" for instructions] and this time, go to the "Appearance" tab. Click "Effects" and for the second drop down box, labeled "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts", select "ClearType". Click OK twice and you're all set.
Lock Computer vs. Welcome Login Screen
You must go into Control Panel and open the "User Accounts" applet to change this setting. Click "Change the way users log on or off". For maximum security, uncheck the "Use the Welcome screen" option. This re-enables the use of the "Lock Computer" option from the ALT CTRL DELETE menu, but prevents multiple users from being logged on locally at a single time. This also returns to the Windows 2000 style login screen. If you'd rather have the ability to *not* be able to use "Lock Computer" and would rather allow multiple users to logon to the computer at a single time locally, leave this setting checked and also check "Use Fast User Switching".
Looking for a Windows XP Compatible Driver?
If you can't find a driver for a hardware device under Windows XP, you can try to use a Windows 2000 compatible driver for the same hardware. Usually this tends to work, and in my experience so far, it always has. However, if you can find a driver specifically designed for use with Windows XP, that is usually the best and safest option. You can also e-mail the hardware manufacturer and ask them about Windows XP compatibility and drivers.
TCP/IP Configuration and Troubleshooting
TCP/IP, the Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (often referred to in Windows as simply Internet Protocol), can be called the language of the Internet. It doesn't matter what type of computer you have; any computer or other device on the Internet needs to use TCP/IP to share information with the rest of the world's largest network.
Unfortunately, the flip side of the power of TCP/IP is that it can be very hard to configure. Every computer or other device on the Internet needs an IP address; computers and devices that are directly connected to the Internet need a public address unique to that machine.
However, most Internet users don't connect directly to the Internet, but connect to an intermediate device or service that provides an IP address as needed. By default, Windows installs TCP/IP to receive an IP address from a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server, a feature of most ISPs as well as broadband modems, routers, and Internet sharing programs. A DHCP server automatically assigns an IP address when your computer makes the connection to the Internet.
However, if your ISP doesn't provide a setup CD for TCP/IP configuration, or if you need to make changes to your configuration because you are using Internet-sharing products such as a router, you might need to manually configure your computer's TCP/IP settings. This might include entering your computer's IP address, the IP addresses of the DNS servers the computer relies on to convert URLs into IP addresses, the IP address of the gateway to the Internet, and so forth.If you need to change these settings, open the properties sheet for the connection in Windows XP. Click the TCP/IP setting and select Properties. To learn how to view these settings in an easier-to-read list,
Using a Fixed IP Address with a Dial-Up or PPPoE Broadband Connection in Windows XP
To change the TCP/IP settings for a dial-up connection in Windows XP, follow these 1. Open the My Network Places folder.
2. Click View Network Connections.
3. Right-click the connection you need to change and select Properties.
4. Click Networking, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties (see Figure 8.42).
Figure 8.42. Configuring a Windows XP dial-up connection for the default server-assigned IP address (left) and for a fixed IP address (right).
5.Click Use the Following IP Address and enter the IP address provided by the ISP for your computer.
6. Click Use the Following DNS Server Addresses and enter the IP addresses for the DNS servers used by the ISP.
7. If you need to make additional changes required by the ISP, such as WINS server IP addresses or additional DNS servers, click Advanced.
8. Click OK when you are finished.
If your broadband Internet connection requires you to log in and provide a username and password, the provider is using PPPoE (point-to-point protocol over Ethernet) for your account. DSL broadband accounts are the primary users of PPPoE, but other types of broadband might use it as well. Use the same procedure listed here to configure PPPoE broadband accounts with a fixed IP address.
Using a Fixed IP Address with a LAN, Cable Modem, or Fixed Wireless Connection in Windows
XP
By default, Windows configures all types of Internet connections to use server-assigned IP addresses. In most cases, this is the correct setting because broadband Internet devices and routers (which are used to share a single Internet connection among multiple users) are normally configured to use DHCP to provide IP addresses to the devices connected to them. However, in some cases, an Internet connection using a LAN or a direct connection to a cable modem or other broadband device might need to use a fixed IP address.
To configure a LAN or broadband Internet connection with a fixed IP address in Windows XP, follow these steps:
1.Open the My Network Places folder.
2.Click View Network Connections
3.Right-click the connection you need to change and select Properties
4.Click Networking, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties
5.Click Use the Following IP Address and enter the IP address provided by the ISP for your computer
6.Click Use the Following DNS Server Addresses and enter the IP addresses for the DNS servers used by the ISP
7.Click Advanced and click Add under the Gateway section; enter the IP address of the default gateway
8.Click OK when finished.
Using TCP/IP Diagnostics to Troubleshoot Your Connection
Microsoft provides several TCP/IP diagnostics programs as part of the TCP/IP protocol. The most important of these include the following:
PING This program sends data to a specified IP address or server name. The target IP then returns data to your computer, which helps you to determine if you have a live connection and how fast it is. You can also use PING to make sure your computer has TCP/IP installed.
IPCONFIG This program displays the IP address and other details about your computer, and it can be used to release and renew IP addresses provided by a DHCP server (often built into a router or broadband modem). Note that if you still use Windows 9x/Me, WINIPCFG performs the same function.
Using IPCONFIG
If you're not a whiz at networking, digging around in the Networks icon in Control Panel probably isn't your idea of a good time. Fortunately, running IPCONFIG provides a fast way to see TCP/IP configuration information about your computer.
After opening a command prompt in Windows XP, type IPCONFIG and press Enter to display the name of the DNS server (the server that matches IP addresses to server names), the computer's IP address and subnet mask, and the default gateway (which connects your computer to the Internet). If you need more detailed information, type IPCONFIG /ALL and press Enter, as in Figure 8.43
Figure 8.43. IPCONFIG /ALL displays your MAC address (physical address), along with your computer's IP address, whether you use DHCP to get an IP address, and other information that tech support people might need to know about your system.
Unfortunately, the flip side of the power of TCP/IP is that it can be very hard to configure. Every computer or other device on the Internet needs an IP address; computers and devices that are directly connected to the Internet need a public address unique to that machine.
However, most Internet users don't connect directly to the Internet, but connect to an intermediate device or service that provides an IP address as needed. By default, Windows installs TCP/IP to receive an IP address from a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server, a feature of most ISPs as well as broadband modems, routers, and Internet sharing programs. A DHCP server automatically assigns an IP address when your computer makes the connection to the Internet.
However, if your ISP doesn't provide a setup CD for TCP/IP configuration, or if you need to make changes to your configuration because you are using Internet-sharing products such as a router, you might need to manually configure your computer's TCP/IP settings. This might include entering your computer's IP address, the IP addresses of the DNS servers the computer relies on to convert URLs into IP addresses, the IP address of the gateway to the Internet, and so forth.If you need to change these settings, open the properties sheet for the connection in Windows XP. Click the TCP/IP setting and select Properties. To learn how to view these settings in an easier-to-read list,
Using a Fixed IP Address with a Dial-Up or PPPoE Broadband Connection in Windows XP
To change the TCP/IP settings for a dial-up connection in Windows XP, follow these 1. Open the My Network Places folder.
2. Click View Network Connections.
3. Right-click the connection you need to change and select Properties.
4. Click Networking, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties (see Figure 8.42).
Figure 8.42. Configuring a Windows XP dial-up connection for the default server-assigned IP address (left) and for a fixed IP address (right).
5.Click Use the Following IP Address and enter the IP address provided by the ISP for your computer.
6. Click Use the Following DNS Server Addresses and enter the IP addresses for the DNS servers used by the ISP.
7. If you need to make additional changes required by the ISP, such as WINS server IP addresses or additional DNS servers, click Advanced.
8. Click OK when you are finished.
If your broadband Internet connection requires you to log in and provide a username and password, the provider is using PPPoE (point-to-point protocol over Ethernet) for your account. DSL broadband accounts are the primary users of PPPoE, but other types of broadband might use it as well. Use the same procedure listed here to configure PPPoE broadband accounts with a fixed IP address.
Using a Fixed IP Address with a LAN, Cable Modem, or Fixed Wireless Connection in Windows
XP
By default, Windows configures all types of Internet connections to use server-assigned IP addresses. In most cases, this is the correct setting because broadband Internet devices and routers (which are used to share a single Internet connection among multiple users) are normally configured to use DHCP to provide IP addresses to the devices connected to them. However, in some cases, an Internet connection using a LAN or a direct connection to a cable modem or other broadband device might need to use a fixed IP address.
To configure a LAN or broadband Internet connection with a fixed IP address in Windows XP, follow these steps:
1.Open the My Network Places folder.
2.Click View Network Connections
3.Right-click the connection you need to change and select Properties
4.Click Networking, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties
5.Click Use the Following IP Address and enter the IP address provided by the ISP for your computer
6.Click Use the Following DNS Server Addresses and enter the IP addresses for the DNS servers used by the ISP
7.Click Advanced and click Add under the Gateway section; enter the IP address of the default gateway
8.Click OK when finished.
Using TCP/IP Diagnostics to Troubleshoot Your Connection
Microsoft provides several TCP/IP diagnostics programs as part of the TCP/IP protocol. The most important of these include the following:
PING This program sends data to a specified IP address or server name. The target IP then returns data to your computer, which helps you to determine if you have a live connection and how fast it is. You can also use PING to make sure your computer has TCP/IP installed.
IPCONFIG This program displays the IP address and other details about your computer, and it can be used to release and renew IP addresses provided by a DHCP server (often built into a router or broadband modem). Note that if you still use Windows 9x/Me, WINIPCFG performs the same function.
Using IPCONFIG
If you're not a whiz at networking, digging around in the Networks icon in Control Panel probably isn't your idea of a good time. Fortunately, running IPCONFIG provides a fast way to see TCP/IP configuration information about your computer.
After opening a command prompt in Windows XP, type IPCONFIG and press Enter to display the name of the DNS server (the server that matches IP addresses to server names), the computer's IP address and subnet mask, and the default gateway (which connects your computer to the Internet). If you need more detailed information, type IPCONFIG /ALL and press Enter, as in Figure 8.43
Figure 8.43. IPCONFIG /ALL displays your MAC address (physical address), along with your computer's IP address, whether you use DHCP to get an IP address, and other information that tech support people might need to know about your system.
PC Repair and Maintenance: A Practical Guide
Book Description PC Repair and Maintenance: A Practical Guide is a reader-friendly guide to repairing computers (running either M'zoft Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP) through easy-to-understand language, detailed diagrams, and video tutorials. The book emphasizes that a deep understanding of "how a computer works" is not necessary to diagnose and repair problems; it concentrates on practical, "hands-on" solutions that can be implemented right away. Focusing mainly on installing and troubleshooting hardware, the book also provides solutions to common operating system-related problems. In addition, thorough explanations for selecting re-placement and expansion components without paying top dollar are providedhelping users get the most out of their newly repaired PC. Regardless of your level of experience, this is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to repair a computer or is considering a career in the computer repair business. Book Info Text covers computers running M'zoft Windows 9x, 2000, Me, and XP. Includes various video tutorials on the companion
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