VITAL TIPS FOR GADGETS AND PC

Leaving your computer in a hurry but you don’t want to log off? You can double-click a shortcut on your desktop to quickly lock the keyboard and display without using CTRL+ALT+DEL or a screensaver.

To create a shortcut on your desktop to lock your computer:
Right-click the desktop.
Point to New, and then click Shortcut.
The Create Shortcut Wizard opens. In the text box, type the following:
rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

Click Next.
Enter a name for the shortcut. You can call it “Lock Workstation” or choose any name you like.
Click Finish.

You can also change the shortcut’s icon (my personal favorite is the padlock icon in shell32.dll).
To change the icon:
Right click the shortcut and then select Properties.
Click the Shortcut tab, and then click the Change Icon button.
In the Look for icons in this file text box, type:
Shell32.dll.
Click OK.
Select one of the icons from the list and then click OK

Note: You can also lock the computer by pressing WinKey + Del

Downloading from RAPIDSHARE often becomes a headache due to the time delay for FREE downloaders!!!

Well here comes a Solution @ pctipsntricks.wordpress.com
Do as follows :
———————————————————–
>> Click a Download link for Rapidshare !

>> Click the Free button on Rapidshare Page !

>> Now as usual the timer starts !!!

>> Now, go to the address box of your browser.
(Address Box >> Where you type the websites !)

>> In the address box type: javascript:alert(c=0)

>> Click OK on the alert box that arises.

Password to open the document:

If it is applied then you have to give the correct password to open the workbook. Otherwise you cannot open the workbook.

Password to modify the document:

If it is applied then you have to give the correct password to modify the workbook. Otherwise your workbook is opened but you cannot modify the workbook. It means that your workbook becomes read-only.

To apply a password to MS Excel document, follow the given steps:

1. Open the file

2. Click on Tools menu and select “Options” from the menu.

3. Select the “Security” tab.

4. Enter “Password to Open”

5. Enter “Password to Modify”

6. Click On OK

7. Verify the passwords by re-entering both of them.

8. Save the document and close it

9. Re-open the document and check the passwords.

If you have windows XP with SP2, then you can disable the writing option to USB drives. This trick is very useful if you have virus in your computer and want to copy files from a USB Drive but don’t want to transfer virus to the USB. Follow the given steps to disable the USB writing option:

To edit the computer registry, first you should log onto your computer with administrative rights.

First click on Start button and type “Regedit” in Run option.

Here locate the location to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

Here in right side panel, click right to create a key with the name “StorageDevicePolicies”.

Now in left side panel, select “StorageDevicePolicies” key, again right click to create new DWORD value then label it “WriteProtect”. Set its value to “1″. But again to enable writing, set its values to “0″.

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

You can reduce the shutdown time of windows 2000 and XP using some tricks. Actually windows XP take time to close all running programs and applications before shutdown, but you can minimize this time if you have little knowledge about editing windows registry.

Follow the given steps to reduce the shutdown time:

· First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option. Here locate the location to:
HKEY_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop

· Here in right side panel, double click on AutoEndTasks and here its default value is 0. Now change it to 1.

· Now in same side panel double click on value name WaitToKillAppTimeout. Its default value data is 20000; now change this value of WaitToKillAppTimeout to 3500.

· Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Today tip will help you to manage the list of most often accessed programs in windows XP and 2003. You can stop any specific computer programs which are appearing on most frequent list of start menu. For example if you want, your windows media player is never showing on the most frequent programs list when you play any movie, so you can hide this entry from others using these settings. Your family members and co-workers can find out your programs browsing activities with clicking on documents list menu. However this tip is very useful for you, if you are sharing your computer with others or you do not want that other persons know about your last visited documents history. To clear the history of any specific program automatically, edit the computer registry keys.

Follow the given steps for configuration to stop any particular program to appear in frequently used programs list:

To edit the computer registry, first you should log onto your computer with administrative rights.
Click Start button and type regedit in Run option then press Enter for next.

Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Program name.exe
Here are the executable file names for others commonly used programs:

For MS Word = windword.exe

For MS Excel = excel.exe

For Explorer = iexplorer.exe

For Notepad = notepad.exe

For Media Player = wmplayer.exe

In this case, we are trying to control windows media player is never showing on the most frequent used program list when we play any movie.

Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\wmplayer.exe

Now in right side panel, click right to create a new String value with the name NoStartPage and close registry editor.

But next time, if you want to disable this functionality then simply delete the NoStartPage string item.

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Security is a system of safeguards designed to protect a computer system and important data from damage or access by unauthorized persons. Different antivirus and firewall programs are used to manage the security of the computer. Some time this is build-in antivirus or firewall program in windows XP to maintain the computer security. But if your windows is not provided with any antivirus, firewall program and Automatic Updates, your windows security center will alerts you a message "Your computer may be at risk. Your virus protection status is unknown" with useless repeating reminder. You can disable this message permanently by changing the values of “AntiVirusDisableNotify” in windows registry.

Follow the given steps to edit the computer registry for disable message:

* First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option.

* Here locate the location to:

· HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center

* Here in right side panel, double click on AntiVirusDisableNotify and set its value 1.

*

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Today tip is very useful particularly for those users who want to restrict the common users to shutdown public computer in common areas. You can disable the "Turn off Computer" button on the start menu and a common user will not "Turn Off, Restart and Stand By" a computer. Using registry editor, you can implement this task in all windows XP versions with minimum effort.

Follow the given steps to disable Turn off Computer" button on the start menu:

To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.
Click Start button and type regedit in Run option then press Enter for next.

Here locate the location to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Here in right side panel, right click to create a new DWORD value with the name NoClose.

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.
But next time, if you want to enable "Turn Off Computer" button on start menu then simply change the value of data box to 0 or delete NoClose DWORD item.

Today tip is about the secret codes of nokia mobile phones and will work on most of the latest nokia mobile sets. You can display the hidden information of mobile sets and troubleshoot the routine problems using these codes.

Follow the list of latest nokia codes list:









Code Action


*#7780# To restore the factory settings of mobile set

*#3283# To verify the set Manufacturing date

*#746025625# To stop the sim clock

*#67705646# Use to delete the operator logo

*#73# Use to reset game scores and phone timers

*#0000# Use to display the mobile software version

*#06# To display the IMEI Number of the mobile

*#92702689# To display the mobile warranty related settings (Serial no, Made,


Purchasing date, Repaired date, Life time).

*#7760# To display the Production serial number

*#bta0# Use to display Bluetooth MAC address

*#9999# Use to display the mobile software version

*#147# If you are using Vodafone then this code will help you show the last call detail

*#2640# To display the mobile security code

*#7328748263373738# Apply to resets the set default security code

*#43# To verify the call waiting status

*#2820# To verify the Bluetooth information

*#7370# To format the mobile phone memory

*#delset# To delete the GPRS AND EMAIL settings

#pw+1234567890+1# To display the lock status of mobile set
#pw+1234567890+4# To display the lock status of your SIM

XP Shutdown Speed

This tweak reduces the time XP waits before automatically closing any running programs when you give it the command to shutdown.
Go to Start then select Run
Type 'Regedit' and click ok
Find 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\'
Select 'WaitToKillAppTimeout'
Right click and select 'Modify'
Change the value to '1000'
Click 'OK'
Now select 'HungAppTimeout'
Right click and select 'Modify'
Change the value to '1000'
Click 'OK'

Now find 'HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop'
Select 'WaitToKillAppTimeout'
Right click and select 'Modify'
Change the value to '1000'
Click 'OK'
Now find 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\'
Select 'WaitToKillServiceTimeout'
Right click and select 'Modify'
Change the value to '1000'
Click 'OK'

1). Start any application, say Word. Open some large documents.


2). Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open Windows Task Manager and click Processes tab and sort the list in descending order on Mem Usage. You will notice that WINWORD.EXE will be somewhere at the top, using multiple MBs of memory.



3). Now switch to Word and simply minimize it. (Don't use the Minimize All Windows option of the task bar).


4). Now go back to the Windows Task Manager and see where WINWORD.EXE is listed. Most probably you will not find it at the top. You will typically have to scroll to the bottom of the list to find Word. Now check out the amount of RAM it is using. Surprised? The memory utilization has reduced by a huge amount.

5). Minimize each application that you are currently not working on by clicking on the Minimize button & you can increase the amount of available RAM by a substantial margin. Depending upon the number and type of applications you use together, the difference can be as much as 50 percent of extra RAM.



In any multitasking system, minimizing an application means that it won't be utilized by the user right now. Therefore, the OS automatically makes the application use virtual memory & keeps bare minimum amounts of the code in physical RAM.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts for Mozilla Firefox

CTRL + A Select all text on a webpage
CTRL + B Open the Bookmarks sidebar
CTRL + C Copy the selected text to the Windows clipboard
CTRL + D Bookmark the current webpage
CTRL + F Find text within the current webpage
CTRL + G Find more text within the same webpage
CTRL + H Opens the webpage History sidebar
CTRL + I Open the Bookmarks sidebar
CTRL + J Opens the Download Dialogue Box
CTRL + K Places the cursor in the Web Search box ready to type your search
CTRL + L Places the cursor into the URL box ready to type a website address
CTRL + M Opens your mail program (if you have one) to create a new email message
CTRL + N Opens a new Firefox window
CTRL + O Open a local file
CTRL + P Print the current webpage
CTRL + R Reloads the current webpage
CTRL + S Save the current webpage on your PC
CTRL + T Opens a new Firefox Tab
CTRL + U View the page source of the current webpage
CTRL + V Paste the contents of the Windows clipboard
CTRL + W Closes the current Firefox Tab or Window (if more than one tab is open)
CTRL + X Cut the selected text
CTRL + Z Undo the last action

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts for Mozilla Firefox

F1 Opens Firefox help
F3 Find more text within the same webpage
F5 Reload the current webpage
F6 Toggles the cursor between the address/URL input box and the current webpage
F7 Toggles Caret Browsing on and off. Used to be able to select text on a webpage with the keyboard
F11 Switch to Full Screen mode

Today tip will help you to manage the all types of user history in windows operating system. This is a built-in feature of all windows keeps track the user's history, for example the websites you have visited, the documents you have opened and the keywords or files for which you've searched. However this tip is very useful for you, if you are sharing your computer with others or you do not want that the other persons know about your last visited documents history. You can clear these kinds of user's history with a single click on desktop icon named Cleanmru.reg. There is no need to clear each history file one by one. This trick will work in nearly all of the windows versions like windows 2000, XP and 2003.

Follow the given steps for configuration to clear recently opened documents automatically:

To edit the computer registry, first you should log onto your computer with administrative rights.

Here copy the following 6 lines and paste in notepad then save with the name Cleanmru.reg on your desktop.

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\

LastVisitedMRU]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Search Assistant\ACMru]

When you double-click Cleanmru.reg icon to remove the windows history, a small dialog box will appear with the information "Are you sure you want to add the information in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\desktop\Clearmru.reg to the registry?"

At the end, you will get the message "Information in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\desktop\Clearmru.reg has been successfully entered into the registry." Click on Ok button and verify that your all history will have been clear.

IGRP Configuration



RouterA#show ip route

Gateway of last resort is not set

C 1.0.0.0/8 is directly connected, serial0/1

C 3.0.0.0/8 is directly connected, serial0/0

C 192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, loopback0



Configure igrp on Router A

RouterA#configure terminal

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with Cntl/z

RouterA#(config)#router igrp 10

RouterA#(config-router)#network 1.0.0.0

RouterA#(config-router)#network 3.0.0.0

RouterA#(config-router)#network 192.168.1.0

RouterA#(config-router)#exit

RouterA#(config)#



Now verify these configuration on router A with command us under:

RouterA#show ip route

To check the routing protocol with this command.

RouterA#show ip protocols

RouterB#show ip route

Gateway of last resort is not set

C 1.0.0.0/8 is directly connected, serial0/1

C 2.0.0.0/8 is directly connected, serial0/0

C 192.168.2.0/24 is directly connected, loopback0

Configure igrp on Router B

RouterB#configure terminal

RouterB#(config)#router igrp 10

RouterB#(config-router)#network 1.0.0.0

RouterB#(config-router)#network 2.0.0.0

RouterB#(config-router)#network 192.168.2.0

RouterB#(config-router)#exit

RouterB#(config)#



Now verify these configuration on router B with command us under:

RouterB#show ip route

RouterC#show ip route

Gateway of last resort is not set

C 2.0.0.0/8 is directly connected, serial1

C 3.0.0.0/8 is directly connected, serial0

C 192.168.3.0/24 is directly connected, loopback0

Configure igrp on Router C

RouterC#configure terminal

RouterC#(config)#router igrp 10

RouterC#(config-router)#network 2.0.0.0

RouterC#(config-router)#network 3.0.0.0

RouterC#(config-router)#network 192.168.3.0

RouterC#(config-router)#exit

RouterC#(config)#

Now verify these configuration on router C with command us under:
RouterC#show ip route

OSPF short for Open Shortest Path First is a Routing Protocol used to select the best suitable route for packets with in the network. OSPF basically an open standard protocol and not relate to any particular vendor. OSPF propagate the changes to all networks more quickly as compare to RIP and IGRP protocols then only send the changed part of the routing table to the other routers with in their area. We can decrease the size of routing table by dividing a big network into logically small segment using its area feature. OSPF protocol check the availability of others routers in the network by sending Hello packets, if the other router does not respond then it is assumed to be dead router. When you used OSPF for single area configuration, its configuration method is slightly differs from the RIP and IGRP.

There are some common OSPF configuration and Executable commands:



OSPF configuration on Router A

In global configuration mode

Router-A(config) # router ospf 1 (Here 1 indicate the process identification number)

Router-A(config-Router) # network 20.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 area 0 (Here 20.0.0.0 indicate the network ID and 0.225.255.255 wildcard mask with area 0)

Router-A(config-Router) # network 40.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 area 1 (Here 40.0.0.0 indicate the network ID and 0.225.255.255 wildcard mask with area 1)

OSPF configuration on Router B

In global configuration mode

Router-B(config) # router ospf 1 (Here 1 indicate the process identification number)

Router-B(config-Router) # network 20.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 area 0 (Here 20.0.0.0 indicate the network ID and 0.225.255.255 wildcard mask with area 0)

Router-B(config-Router) # network 30.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 area 1 (Here 30.0.0.0 indicate the network ID and 0.225.255.255 wildcard mask with area 1)

Now on both routers each Network will be added automatically, you can ping to Router A and Router B to check communication. You can verify this on Router-A or Router-B by using command Router# ping 40.0.0.10 (ping for Router B) and Router # ping 30.0.0.20 (ping for router A).

*

Turn the power switch off and back on to recycle the power.
*

Press the Break key or key sequence to put the router into ROM Monitor mode. The break key varies by computer or terminal software. The sequence might be CTRL-D, CTRL-Break or another combination.
*

At the > prompt, type 0 to record the current value of the configuration register normally 0x2102, or 0x102.

>o

Configuration register = 0x2102 at last boot

Bit# Configuration register option settings:

15 Diagnostic mode disabled.
*

Type o/r 0x2142 to tell the router to boot from flash without loading the configuration in NVRAM at the next reload.
*

Type i to have the router reboot. The router ignores the configuration in NVRAM.
*

The router runs the setup dialog, Type no or press Ctrl-C to skip the initial setup Dialog.
*

Type enable ate the Router> prompt to go to privileged exec mode.
*

Copy the startup configuration to the running configuration by using the configure memory or copy startup-config running-config commands. Do not type configure terminal. If you use the configure terminal command, you overwrite the configuration stored in NVRAM.
*

View the configuration by typing write terminal or show running-config. View the configured line, vty and enable passwords. Any encrypted passwords need to be changed.
*

Enter the configuration mode by typing configure terminal. Change the line of enable passwords as necessary.
*

All interfaces are in a shutdown state. Issue the no shutdown command on every interface that is to be used.
*

Type config-register 0x2102 to return the router to normal operation at the next reloads.
*

Exit configuration mode by pressing Ctrl-Z
*

Save your changes by typing write memory or copy running-config startup-config.
*

Reload the router and verify the passwords.

The run option of Start menu is used to run a program or to open a document directly. If you do not know the exact location of the program or document then click on Start button to open Run and type the programs shortcut name to open it directly.

Run Commands

*

appwiz.cpl -- Used to run Add/Remove wizard
*

Calc --Calculator
*

Cfgwiz32 --ISDN Configuration Wizard
*

Charmap --Character Map
*

Chkdisk --Repair damaged files
*

Cleanmgr --Cleans up hard drives
*

Clipbrd --Windows Clipboard viewer
*

Control --Displays Control Panel
*

Cmd --Opens a new Command Window
*

Control mouse --Used to control mouse properties

#

Dcomcnfg --DCOM user security
#

Debug --Assembly language programming tool
#

Defrag --Defragmentation tool
#

Drwatson --Records programs crash & snapshots
#

Dxdiag --DirectX Diagnostic Utility
#

Explorer --Windows Explorer

#

Fontview --Graphical font viewer
#

Fsmgmt.msc -- Used to open shared folders
#

Firewall.cpl -- Used to configure windows firewall
#

Ftp -ftp.exe program
#

Hostname --Returns Computer's name
#

Hdwwiz.cpl -- Used to run Add Hardware wizard
#

Ipconfig --Displays IP configuration for all network adapters
#

Logoff -- Used to logoff the computer
#

MMC --Microsoft Management Console
#

Msconfig --Configuration to edit startup files
#

Mstsc -- Used to access remote desktop
#

Mrc -- Malicious Software Removal Tool
#

Msinfo32 --Microsoft System Information Utility
#

Nbtstat --Displays stats and current connections using NetBIOS over TCP/IP
#

Netstat --Displays all active network connections
#

Nslookup--Returns your local DNS server
#

Osk ---Used to access on screen keyboard
#

Perfmon.msc -- Used to configure the performance of Monitor.
#

Ping --Sends data to a specified host/IP
#

Powercfg.cpl -- Used to configure power option
#

Regedit --Registry Editor
#

Regwiz -- Registration wizard
#

Sfc /scannow -- System File Checker
#

Sndrec32 --Sound Recorder
#

Shutdown -- Used to shutdown the windows
#

Spider -- Used to open spider solitaire card game
#

Sfc / scannow -- Used to run system file checker utility.
#

Sndvol32 --Volume control for soundcard
#

Sysedit -- Edit system startup files
#

Taskmgr --Task manager
#

Telephon.cpl -- Used to configure modem options.
#

Telnet --Telnet program
#

Tracert --Traces and displays all paths required to reach an internet host
#

Winchat -- Used to chat with Microsoft
#

Wmplayer -- Used to run Windows Media player

#

Wab -- Used to open Windows address Book.
#

WinWord -- Used to open Microsoft word
#

Winipcfg --Displays IP configuration
#

Winver -- Used to check Windows Version
#

Wupdmgr --Takes you to Microsoft Windows Update
#

Write -- Used to open WordPad

With windows Vista you have noticed the slow internet speed. The web browsing and downloading speed is very slow as compare to previous versions of windows. You can open the same sites in windows XP and server 2003 with the normal speed.

Follow the given steps to increase the Vista browsing speed:

First go to Advance tab in Internet Explorer and turn off the TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption option. Here to fix problem with some secure pages turn on the SSL 2.0 (Secure Sockets Layer) feature and click Ok button to close it.

Follow the major fix for this problem:

In windows Vista, the TCP autotuning feature is enabled by default. Some web servers do not respond properly to this feature, so it appears that some sites open with very slow speed.

To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.

First click on Start button and type CMD in Run option then press Enter.

At Command Prompt, type the following command and press enter.

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel= disabled

This command will disable the TCP autotuning feature. Now close the command Prompt and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

You can easily restore these setting by typing the following command at Command Prompt.

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel= normal
Now close the command Prompt and again restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

You are unable to set your desktop wallpaper to a picture. You can access the Desktop settings in Display Properties, but the Background list is disabled. If you right-click a picture and select Set as Desktop Background, nothing happens.

This problem often occurs after a virus or spyware maliciously changes Windows security settings.
Solution

Method

This describes how to manually perform the same actions carried out by the file downloaded above.

* Click Start, Run and enter regedit
* Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies
* If folder Policies contains a folder named ActiveDesktop, select and delete it.
* Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
* If folder Policies contains a folder named ActiveDesktop, select and delete it.

Applies to

* Microsoft Windows XP

This message means that the Windows boot loader cannot be found. This is often the result of trying to boot from a disk that is not a boot disk. If not, it means that the boot loader file has been lost or corrupted.
Solution
Method 1

Disonnect any removable drives, and check that there are no CDs or DVDs in the CD/DVD drives, then restart.

If this does not resolve the problem, try Method 2.
Method 2

Repair using Spotmau PowerSuite boot CD.

* Insert the Spotmau PowerSuite boot CD and start the computer.
* Select Windows Recovery.
* Select Windows NT/2000/XP/2003.
* Select Recover NTLDR and NTDETECT.
* Choose the correct Windows version, e.g. Windows XP.
* Click Recover.

Alternatively, follow the instructions on this page.
Applies to

* Microsoft Windows 2000
* Microsoft Windows XP

Showing Common Tasks in Window



When you open a window from My Computer or the Control Panel, and you don't see the blue bar with additional options on the left side, you may simply need to turn on Common Tasks

1. From that same windows, go to Tools / Folder Options
2. Check Show common tasks in folders

Renaming Multiple Files in a Directory



If you want to rename multiple files in the same directory:

1. Using the Windows Explorer, select all the files you want to rename
2. Press F2 or right click and select Rename
3. Enter the prefix for the name you want (e.g. Newname)
4. This will automatically rename the rest of the files Newname (1).jpg, Newname (2).jpg etc.
5. Make sure you include the extension if you have the Explorer configured to show them.

Disable Windows Tour



If you want to disable the Take Tour of Windows XP that comes up after you install WindowsXP:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour
3. Create a new DWORD key called RunCount
4. Give it a value of 0


Windows Help and Support Error



If you get an error Windows cannot find HELPCTR.EXE, it may be that a registry entry has gotten corrupted.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\HELPCTR.EXE
3. If the key isn't there, right click and create a new key HELPCTR.EXE
4. It should have a value of C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe
5. Reboot

Taking Ownership Of a Folder


Sometimes when you reinstall WindowsXP, you can receive an Access Denied error when trying to open a previous user's directory.
To take ownership of that folder again:

1. Log on with an account that has administrator rights
2. Right click on the folder
3. Select Properties
4. Click on the Security tab
5. Click on the Advanced button
6. Click on the Owner tab
7. In the list of Names, click on your name
8. To take ownership, click on Replace owner on subcontainers and objects
9. Click OK and Yes

Task Manager is Menu Bar is Missing



If you start the Task Manager and menu bar and tabs are missing,
the Task Manager is running in Tiny Footprint mode.

To fix this, simply double click on an empty space in the top border
Network Connection Always Shows Access Denied



If you are always getting Access Denied errors when trying to connect to a XP computer,
and you know you have the correct user names and passwords on the computer,
the solution may be a simple registry edit.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control / Lsa
3. Change the value of a key called "restrictanonymous" to 0 instead of 1
4. Don't change "restrictanonymoussam" value.
5. Reboot

Hiding Manage My Computer



If you want to remove Manage My Computer from My Computer

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies / Explorer
3. Create a DWORD value called NoManageMyComputerVerb
4. Set the value to 1
5. Reboot

If in Windows XP you typically maximize a too-small Internet Explorer window, every subsequent time you launch Internet Explorer, its windows may remain too small. By default, Internet Explorer is supposed to open at the same size it was at the last time it was closed; however, sometimes the default setting gets out of whack, and you need to manually reset it. Here’s how:

1. Launch Internet Explorer.

2. Click one of the window corners and drag it out to completely fill your screen. Do not use the Maximize button.

3. Press [Alt] to view the menu bar (if you are using Internet Explorer 7).

4. Press and hold down either [Ctrl] or [Shift] while selecting Exit from the File menu. Do not use the Close button.

Now when you launch Internet Explorer, it should open in a full window. If it opens in the same small window, repeat the steps but hold down the opposite key in step 4, that is either [Ctrl] or [Shift].

***This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional. As this is a function of Windows XP, it will work on all versions of IE.

Save 500MB to One Gig of Disk Space On Your Windows XP With Just One Move.

Ready for this? All you have to do is delete C:\hiberfil.sys.

If you don’t have it, don’t worry about it. If you have it and you’re looking at it, you don’t need it. If you got rid of it before but didn’t follow up, check again because it’s back. And no, it’s not a virus. Now that I’ve baffled you with the short version, here’s the details:

Windows itself won’t let you delete the file outright, but you can always reboot with a live rescue disk and delete it. For the rest of you (”um… what’s a live rescue disk?”), deleting it and following up are the same step.

First, what is it: A new feature that came with XP is hibernate mode. In order to come back from hibernation quickly, Windows dumps the entire contents of RAM memory into this file, then when you wake it from hibernation, it reads the file back into RAM. That’s great, but it doesn’t delete the file afterwards. So it takes up however much memory you have in RAM, be it 500MB or several Gigs.

The steps to turn off hibernation are:

* Go to Control Panel.
* Open Power Options.
* Click on the “Hibernate” tab, and un-check the ‘Enable hibernate support’ check box, and click Apply.
* Reboot.

After you restart your computer, hiberfil.sys will be automatically deleted.

Now, even if you didn’t take these steps, you still might not have the file. This is because the hibernate function temporarily freezes a snapshot of your computer’s state while idle, so if you constantly have activity (like running SETI@home or downloading torrents) hibernation will be impossible

How This Tip Works

There are a number of users who are noticing that their PC will no longer automatically power down/shut off without pressing the power off button on the computers unlike in Windows Me/95/2000. There could be a number of reasons for this - but the main one seems to be that ACPI is not enabled on the computer or in Windows XP. Here is how to try that out:

1. Click - Start - Control Panel - Performance and Maintenance - Power Options
Tab
2. Then click APM - Enable Advanced Power Management Support

How This Tip Works

Windows XP contains its own firewall. A firewall is a security system that acts as a protective boundary between a network and the outside world. Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is firewall software that is used to set restrictions on what information is communicated from your home or small office network to and from the Internet to your network.

If your network uses Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to provide Internet access to multiple computers, ICF should be enabled on the shared Internet connection. However, ICS and ICF can be enabled separately. You should enable ICF on the Internet connection of any computer that is connected directly to the Internet. To check to see if ICF is enabled or to enable the firewall, see Enable or disable Internet Connection Firewall.

ICF also protects a single computer connected to the Internet. If you have a single computer connected to the Internet with a cable modem, a DSL modem, or a dial-up modem, ICF protects your Internet connection. You should not enable ICF on VPN connections because it will interfere with the operation of file sharing and other VPN functions.

1: Enable the ICF by right clicking on your Internet or Network connection and then going to the ADVANCED option and ticking the ICF enable box.

XP Game Compatibility


You want to know if all your favorite games are still going to run under Windows XP. Remember what happened when we tried to run games on our Windows 2000 machines? Sometimes we were a little disappointed. Windows 2000 was made more for corporate applications than "Quake," but true techno-geeks know they don't have to sacrifice death matches for a robust business environment -- at least not anymore.


Windows XP has shown an impressive track record of game compatibility. We ran a number of standard games, such as "Tiger Woods Golf," "NHL 2001," "Max Payne," and "Unreal" on our Windows XP Professional machine. Some of these games were specifically slated for Windows 95 and 98, and were shown not to work in Windows 2000. The installation in XP was as smooth as silk. The games ran quickly and beautifully -- not a problem in sight (except for my bad chip shot -- Tiger was hanging his head in shame).


Some less-sophisticated programs may not run as smoothly, and we found that some older applications, such as the Atari 2600 Classic Game Collection, did not appreciate the Windows XP environment. In this case you can use the Application Compatibility Wizard, found in the accessories menu. XP includes integrated compatibility layers to mimic older versions of Windows, so if your program does not work in Windows XP, the compatibility wizard will walk you through the process of getting even your favorite DOS games up and running. In this case, we ran the Atari Classic Game Collection in the Windows 95 environment, at 256 colors and 640x480 screen resolution. Then we set XP to always run our Atari application in this environment, and everything was smooth sailing after that.

One final tip about compatibility: Don't run the compatibility wizard if your program appears to be running well in the normal environment, as the wizard will give you an error message. In general, XP has great program compatibility, so you can upgrade your operating system without giving up all your old favorites.

Set up and Use Internet Connection Sharing

With Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in Windows XP, you can connect one computer to the Internet, then share the Internet service with several computers on your home or small office network. The Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP Professional will automatically provide all of the network settings you need to share one Internet connection with all the computers in your network. Each computer can use programs such as Internet Explorer and Outlook Express as if they were directly connected to the Internet.
You should not use this feature in an existing network with Windows 2000 Server domain controllers, DNS servers, gateways, DHCP servers, or systems configured for static IP addresses.


Enabling ICS

The ICS host computer needs two network connections. The local area network connection, automatically created by installing a network adapter, connects to the computers on your home or small office network. The other connection, using a 56k modem, ISDN, DSL, or cable modem, connects the home or small office network to the Internet. You need to ensure that ICS is enabled on the connection that has the Internet connection. By doing this, the shared connection can connect your home or small office network to the Internet, and users outside your network are not at risk of receiving inappropriate addresses from your network.
When you enable ICS, the local area network connection to the home or small office network is given a new static IP address and configuration. Consequently, TCP/IP connections established between any home or small office computer and the ICS host computer at the time of enabling ICS are lost and need to be reestablished. For example, if Internet Explorer is connecting to a Web site when Internet Connection Sharing is enabled, refresh the browser to reestablish the connection. You must configure client machines on your home or small office network so TCP/IP on the local area connection obtains an IP address automatically. Home or small office network users must also configure Internet options for Internet Connection Sharing. To enable Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Discovery and Control on Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition computers, run the Network Setup Wizard from the CD or floppy disk on these computers. For ICS Discovery and Control to work on Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition computers, Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later must be installed.

To enable Internet Connection Sharing on a network connection

You must be logged on to your computer with an owner account in order to complete this procedure.
Open Network Connections. (Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double–click Network Connections.)

Click the dial–up, local area network, PPPoE, or VPN connection you want to share, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.

On the Advanced tab, select the Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection check box.
If you want this connection to dial automatically when another computer on your home or small office network attempts to access external resources, select the Establish a dial–up connection whenever a computer on my network attempts to access the Internet check box.

If you want other network users to enable or disable the shared Internet connection, select the Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection check box.

Under Internet Connection Sharing, in Home networking connection, select any adapter that connects the computer sharing its Internet connection to the other computers on your network. The Home networking connection is only present when two or more network adapters are installed on the computer.


To configure Internet options on your client computers for Internet Connection Sharing

Open Internet Explorer. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Internet Explorer.)

On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

On the Connections tab, click Never dial a connection, and then click LAN Settings.

In Automatic configuration, clear the Automatically detect settings and Use automatic configuration script check boxes.

In Proxy Server, clear the Use a proxy server check box.

Yes, Windows 2000, based on the NT platform, an operating system that technically is not even built on top of DOS, has a really good DOS prompt. No kidding! I do a lot of Java development with Windows 2000 (no, I’m not making coffee, I’m programming). This type of works causes me to use the DOS prompt a whole lot. With Windows 2000, there are two features I use all the time that dramatically increase my productivity.

TITLE command

I open a lot of windows on the screen at once. Not just one or two, but perhaps ten or twenty. Among these windows are several DOS prompts. I may have one prompt to FTP programs to and from a central server (yes, you can FTP in DOS – read the other tips in MalekTips for more information or ask about it in the forums and I’ll be glad to help). I may have one prompt to compile programs, one to debug applications, one to browse around my hard drive, etc.

If I have four web browsers open and I look on the taskbar to find a browser, I don’t just see “MSIE”, “MSIE”, “MSIE”, and “MSIE”. I’d see “MalekTips.Com”, “AnotherWebsite.something”, “Screensavers”, or other descriptive titles. However, when I look on the taskbar for a specific DOS prompt, I would normally see such descriptive (sic) titles as “Command Prompt”, “Command Prompt”, “Command Prompt”, and “Command Prompt”.

Windows 2000 has a nice TITLE command whereby I can type

TITLE a descriptive title here

at a DOS prompt, and suddenly the window’s title changes to what I specify! No more looking on the taskbar guessing for which prompt I need to access; the DOS prompt titles are now as descriptive as any other application’s titles.

CD Around the Drive

Windows 95 brought long filenames into the mainstream Windows world (yes, there were software packages that brought long filenames into the Windows 3.1 world, but I did say *mainstream*). Unfortunately, if you’ve ever dealt with running the “CD” (change directory) command to change directories, you’ll run into two big problems thanks to long filenames.

1. Filenames with spaces require being prefixed and suffixed with a quotation mark. Else, DOS just spits out “Bad Command or Filename” until you are blue in the face.

2. Long filenames take a real, real long time to type. And most people don’t like to do a lot of typing.

Windows 2000 helps fix both of these problems! No longer must you remember to type

CD “my crazy directory name”

after you accidentally type

CD my crazy directory name

several times, spit at your command, perhaps say a few not-very-nice things to your box, scream, etc., and lose productivity. Windows 2000 allows you to just type

CD my crazy directory name

and it will process your request with ease.

Regarding the long directory names; a hack has been circulating around the Internet on how to let your Windows NT 4.0 DOS prompt perform Unix-style path completion with the TAB key. What this means is that if you have a directory structure like so:

C:\pics – sports
C:\pics – ocean
C:\pics – kitchen

you can just type

cd \pics

and start pressing the TAB key a few times. The DOS prompt would then cycle through the list of directories and let you easily select the one you want.

This trick, however, required making a registry hack under Windows NT 4.0, and many people feel very uncomfortable doing this to their machine. And others would get angry looks from their IT staff for suggesting such a thing. Worry no longer! Most Windows 2000 implementations have this feature built in, and Windows 2000 lets you do path completion another way, the DOS prompt way.

Remember wildcards? Remember “*” means select all? Well, a modified version of this is possible with Windows 2000. You can type CD partialdirectoryname*, and Windows 2000 would look for the first directory name starting with “partialdirectoryname” and would CD to that directory.

For diagnostic purposes, it is possible to operate Windows with a reduced set of drivers and files. This is called Safe Mode. How to get to Safe Mode is discussed here.
What is Safe Mode?

All versions of Windows come with a diagnostic setup called "Safe Mode". Many average PC users are unfamiliar with the purpose of Safe Mode and only encounter it when there has been a system crash or similar problem. They are then puzzled by what to do next. The purpose of Safe Mode is to help troubleshoot computer problems by operating with a bare minimum of drivers and Windows components. By reducing what is running, Safe Mode can help you diagnose a problem caused by a faulty driver or software.
How to Get to Safe Mode

One way to reach safe mode is by booting up and pressing the F8 key right after the POST check. In practice this can be tricky to time correctly and all too often you can end up in the regular boot mode. The technique is to repeatedly tap the F8 key until the startup menu appears. Sometimes you will fill up the buffer memory with all the key taps and get an error message or the computer will complain by beeping. Also, the F8 key may not work with a USB keyboard because USB drivers have not yet been loaded. However, newer computers have USB support in the BIOS so this problem should be limited to older machines.

When you successfully initiate the boot options selection, the window shown below will open. The menu provides a number of advanced options. The default selection is "Start Windows Normally" and is highlighted. To open in Safe Mode, use the up arrow key to select it and then press the Enter key.

Add Safe Mode to boot menu

If you try out a lot of new gadgets or software and find yourself frequently needing to go into Safe Mode, you can add Safe Mode to the Boot Menu by editing the file boot.ini. The Boot Menu and how to edit it is discussed in detail on another page. For a specific example of adding Safe Mode, see this Elder Geek page
Use Msconfig to get to Safe Mode

If you only want to enter Safe Mode occasionally and have trouble using the F8 key, you can use the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) . Go to Start|Run and enter “msconfig” (without quotes). When the utility opens, click on the tab BOOT.INI as shown in the figure below.

Highlight the operating system listed in the section [operating systems] as shown in the figure below. Next put a check by the entry /SAFEBOOT as shown below. Also click the radio button MINIMAL Then reboot. The system should open in Safe Mode. When finished using Safe Mode, open Msconfig again and remove the check by /SAFEBOOT. Otherwise, you will continue to open in Safe Mode whenever you boot.

When the Computer Boots to Safe Mode without Asking

Many people have probably had it happen that instead of a normal boot, Windows puts up an error message and boots into Safe Mode. The most common reason for this to happen is that Windows has been shut down improperly. This will be indicated in the error message that comes up first. Generally, all that needs to be done in the case of improper shutdown is to restart the computer and Windows will clean up the problem and reboot normally.

If the system continues to go into safe mode, there may be a corrupt file or a driver problem. The error message may indicate the problem. Try doing a system restore. If the problem persists, there may be a problem with spyware or other pest so use the methods for cleanup associated with your particular anti-malware programs.

Although they are not directly executable as programs, the many DLL files present in Windows contain libraries of functions that are used throughout the operating system and in application software. Generally, these functions are used internally by programs and are not directly visible to the computer user. However, Windows XP contains a file rundll32.exe that allows command line access to certain functions that are explicitly written to be available to this executable file. In this article we discuss how to use some of these.

Syntax for using Rundll32.exe

The syntax for using Rundll32.exe must be followed precisely and is as follows:
RUNDLL32.EXE ,

The DLL name may not contain any spaces, commas or quotation marks. If the DLL name does contain spaces, use the short (8.3) version of the file name. Note that there must be a comma between the DLL name and the entry point. Also, the name of the entry point function is case-sensitive, and there can't be any spaces between the DLL name, the comma, and the entry point function name. If the DLL file is not in a folder contained in the system path environment, then the full path must be used for the DLL name. See the Microsoft Knowledge Base for more details.

There are a number of commands employing Rundll32.exe that can be entered into Start-Run, a command window, or used in scripts. A common use is to open various Control Panel applets. (Another method specific to Control Panel is discussed here.) For example, to open the Control Panel applet for configuring the display properties enter
RUNDLL32.EXE SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0

Different tabs for the Desktop applet can be opened by changing the number at the end that is part of the argument. All of the Control Panel applets and their tabs can be opened this way by using the relevant CPL file and the appropriate tab number as arguments. The operating system also uses this method to display Control Panel. In fact, Control Panel applications are the most commonly mentioned examples in discussions of using Rundll32.exe. Examples of some different applications are discussed below.
Applications accessible by using Rundll32.exe

Rundll32.exe is used internally by Windows for a variety of DLL functions not exposed to the PC user but there are a number of DLLs that contain entry points available for external use. The most useful of these DLLs is shell32.dll. As illustrated above, this is the DLL that can be used to open various Control Panel applets.

Here are some lists of available commands (Note: some of the listed commands are for Win98 and do not work in WinXP.)

* Dx21 Reference Guide (Had 244 instances when I last looked)
* Vbexplorer.com
* Media Chance Rundll FAQ
* Rob van der Woude's site

The last site listed above has a discussion of the many options for command line printer control using Rundll32.exe and printui.dll. The discussion is for Windows 2000 Professional but seems to work the same on my Windows XP Professional system. (I do not know if it applies to XP Home.) If you open a command window and enter the line below an extensive list of options will be shown. There are a variety of possible uses.
RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry /?

Another example is a command that allows you to switch the mouse-buttons for left-hand use. Unfortunately, once the switch is made it seems that it can only be undone by the old-fashioned method of going to Control Panel. In other words, it doesn't act as a toggle but seems to be one way. The command is
RUNDLL32.EXE USER32.DLL,SwapMouseButton

If you need to switch the button settings back and forth, the command given below will take you to the mouse settings dialog
RUNDLL32.EXE SHELL32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl @0,0

A further example is a command that brings up the "Open with.." dialog box for a particular file myfile.ext given as an argument. The full path for myfile.ext must be used unless its folder is in the path environment.
RUNDLL32.EXE SHELL32.DLL,OpenAs_RunDLL

An Internet Explorer application that will clear out the branding that some ISPs like AOL stick into the IE title bar is
RUNDLL32.EXE IEdkcs32.dll,Clear

The Safely Remove Hardware icon that is displayed in the notification area (also called the System Tray) when USB devices are attached can sometimes fail to appear. The utility can be opened by a command
RUNDLL32.EXE SHELL32.DLL,Control_RunDLL HotPlug.dll

The foregoing examples are a only a few of those listed in the references given above. Depending on their pattern of usage and level of computer expertise, PC users may find a variety of others that they are of interest.
Making shortcuts using Rundll32.exe

Many of the commands using Rundll32.exe are more likely to be found in scripts rather than in shortcuts for everyday use. However, creating a shortcut using one of the commands is very easy. Right-click in an empty spot in the folder where you want the shortcut to be located and choose New-Shortcut from the context menu. Enter the desired command in the line "Type the location of the item." Click "Next," choose a name, and click "Finish."

A shortcut that I personally like opens the dialog box for editing the Favorites in Internet Explorer. The command is

RUNDLL32.EXE shdocvw.dll,DoOrganizeFavDlg

In Windows 98/Me two of the most commonly used shortcuts using Rundll32.exe allowed for a quick computer shutdown or for an easy reboot. These do not work in Windows XP. A different method is available using the file shutdown.exe. However, to put your computer into hibernation mode (assuming your power management supports this) the command for a shortcut is

RUNDLL32.EXE PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState
Error messages involving Rundll32.Exe

Since Rundll32.exe is involved with many processes in Windows, it isn't uncommon that error messages crop up that include references to it. That does not mean that Rundll32.exe is itself the actual culprit. More often than not the problem lies elsewhere, such as the DLL file that is being called. Persistent error messages may also indicate infection by a virus or a spyware or Trojan problem. Regular scans with an anti-virus and spyware removal software with updated definitions should be made. There are too many possible reasons for error messages to be discussed here but H. Leboeuf has a Web page with a large catalog of articles from the Microsoft Knowledge Base that are about Rundll32.exe error messages.
Determining which modules are being executed by Rundll.32.exe

The Windows XP tool Tasklist can be used to determine what program modules are currently being executed by rundll32.exe. (For discussion of Tasklist, go to this page.) To create a list of running tasks, open a Command Prompt window and enter the following command:

tasklist /m /fi "IMAGENAME eq rundll32.exe" >C:\rundll32.txt

This will create a text file rundll32.txt on the C: drive that lists the running modules. If you prefer a different location for the text file, modify the command accordingly. Also, to simply view the running tasks in the command window, omit the part of the command that does file redirection, >C:\rundll32.txt.
Difference between Rundll32.exe and Rundll.exe

Note that Windows 9X/Me still had some 16-bit operating system files so a 16-bit relative of rundll32.exe called rundll.exe was also present in the older versions of Windows. Windows XP is a pure 32-bit system and rundll.exe is not present.

A good choice for those who wish to add Windows XP to an older system is dual-booting. Windows XP is incompatible with a variety of older programs and hardware. By using a dual-boot system, the functionality of these legacy applications and equipment can be preserved until the time comes for a new computer or a complete system overhaul. Dual-booting with XP is basically very straightforward but there are a few points that are worth pointing out and I will mention them here.

It is not a good idea to install XP on the same partition with another operating system. A second empty partition should be created first. Although partitioning can be done from the XP disk using the modern version of Fdisk, everything on existing partitions will be destroyed. Unless you are going to completely reinstall your older operating system you will need something like Partition Magic. If using Partition Magic, create a data partition and do not use the option “this partition will contain an operating system” unless you plan to use a boot manager other than the one that comes with XP and you want to hide the two operating systems from each other. Hiding one operating system from the other was necessary when dual-booting Windows 95 with 98 or dual-booting Windows 98 with Me. It is not necessary with XP and my personal preference is to be able to see the entire system from each operating system. Windows XP can also be hidden from the Windows 98 system by formatting the XP partition with NTFS. Windows 98/Me must have a FAT partition. More advanced users may prefer this setup. Any FAT32 partition will be visible to Windows XP but Windows 98/Me cannot read NTFS volumes. (For more on the different types of file systems, see this article.)

The older operating system must be already installed before starting the XP installation. Installation is very easy with only one thing that has to be carefully watched. Do NOT use the default choice of an upgrade installation. Ignore the message that this is “recommended”. That choice will over-write the older existing Windows operating system. Choose “New installation, advanced.” The installation will then go in automatically onto the empty partition. If you have more than two partitions, there is an Advanced setting that will allow you to pick which partition you want XP to be on. More details are at this Microsoft article.

After XP is installed, a boot menu will appear whenever the computer is first turned on. By default Windows XP will be at the top and will be the operating system that boots unless Windows 98/Me (called Windows on the menu) is highlighted by using the down arrow key. The default setting has a 30 second delay period in which to make a choice. Both the order of operating systems in the boot menu and the delay time are controlled in a hidden file boot.ini that is located in the root of the C: drive. It is a text file and can be edited with a text editor (after removing the attributes) but it is a better idea to do any editing from Windows XP. One way to adjust settings is to go to Control Panel-System-Advanced-Startup and Recovery- Default Operating System.

One final point is that the early stages of booting XP actually involve the C: drive even when most of the operating system is on another partition. XP installs three files in the root of the C: partition. These files are hidden, read-only, system files and include the aforementioned boot.ini, and two others, ntldr, and ntdetect.com. Dual-boot systems also have a file bootsect.dos. If these get corrupted, the system will not boot so I suggest making a backup diskette with copies.
Removing Dual-Boot Entries from Boot Display Menu

After using a dual-boot system for a period of time, many PC users then want to remove the older operating system and use only Windows XP. One annoyance is that after removing the older system, you still get a boot display menu listing both operating systems. Removing the boot display menu involves editing the boot.ini file and is described here.

Knowing how to use the Windows XP disk maintenance tool Chkdsk is important for a healthy computer. Its purpose and application for disk error checking are described.

Every Microsoft operating system since DOS has contained a tool for repairing corrupted file or folder structures and checking for bad disk sectors. In DOS it was called Chkdsk, in Windows 9X/Me it was called Scandisk, and in Windows XP (and Vista) we are back to the name Chkdsk.

What Chkdsk does and why it should be used

Chkdsk inspects the physical structure of a disk to make sure that it is healthy. It can repair problems related to bad sectors, lost clusters, cross-linked files, and directory errors. These types of problems can arise in a variety of ways. System crashes or freezes, power glitches, incorrectly turning off a computer can all cause corruption in the file or folder structure. Physically bumping or jarring a computer can cause the head that reads disks to hit the surface and damage sectors. Once some sort of error occurs it can propagate to create more errors so a regularly scheduled disk checkup is part of good system maintenance.

Chkdsk can also serve as an early warning that a hard drive is deteriorating. Disks gradually wear out and sectors may become bad. If Chkdsk starts finding bad sectors, that is a sign that a drive may need replacing. Unfortunately, many hard drive failures are sudden but nonetheless Chkdsk is an important line of defense.

How to run Chkdsk - Graphical interface

Chkdsk can be run as a command-line application or it can be run with a graphical user interface. Typical home PC users will probably use the latter so I will discuss it first. Chkdsk is not normally listed in the All Programs menu but is reached by the following steps:

1. Open "My Computer" and right-click on the icon for the drive that is to be checked.
2. In the context menu that opens, choose "Properties".
3. Click the "Tools" tab at the top of the Properties window.
4. In the "Error-checking" section, click the button "Check now".
5. A box showing the options for running Chkdsk is then available as shown in the figure below.

Generally, the option "Automatically fix file system errors" should be chosen for routine checks. If serious disk problems are suspected, the option "Scan and attempt recovery of bad sectors" should also be checked. However, this may involve a period of many hours.
How to run Chkdsk - Command line

Chkdsk.exe is actually a command-line application and can be run from the command shell. (Details on using the command line are given at http://commandwindows.com) There are a number of switches that can be used to modify its functions. The syntax of a command is
Chkdsk [volume[[path]filename]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/I] [/C] [/L[:size]]


Switch Description
[volume] Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name.
[filename] FAT/FAT32 only: Specifies the files to check for fragmentation.
/F Fixes errors on the disk. Does not scan for bad sectors.
/V On FAT/FAT32: Displays the full path and name of every file on the disk. On NTFS: Displays cleanup messages if any.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /F).
/X NTFS only. Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary.
/I NTFS only: Performs a less vigorous check of index entries.
/C NTFS only: Skips checking of cycles within the folder structure.
/L[:size] NTFS only: Changes the log file size to the specified number of kilobytes.

Although Chkdsk can be run with no switches, the most useful application is to use either the /F or /R switches. This corresponds to the two options in the graphical interface discussed above. Note that running with the /R option can be quite lengthy. If there are unusually large numbers of files, the /F option can also take many hours. The /R switch includes the functions of the /F switch.
Running after a reboot

Chkdsk cannot carry out repair functions if any of the files on a disk are locked or in use. So it generally requires a reboot to run a check on any active volume with files in use. Chkdsk then runs before the full system is loaded and files become locked.

If you turn off your computer incorrectly, you may find that Chkdsk will run when you reboot. This is a safety feature to make sure that no file or folder corruption occurred.
Understanding how Chkdsk works

Chkdsk tests both FAT and NTFS systems but NTFS is now the most common file system. Here is a brief description of what Chkdsk does when it runs on an NTFS system. Chkdsk's activity is divided into three major passes plus an optional fourth and fifth pass. During each pass a message and a progress report is displayed.
Phase 1: Checking files
During its first pass, Chkdsk examines each file record segment in the volume's master file table (MFT) and examines it for internal consistency. At the end of this phase, Chkdsk has identified the space that is in use and the space that is available, both within the MFT and on the volume as a whole.
Phase 2: Checking indexes (directories)

During this pass, Chkdsk examines each directory that is on the volume, checking for internal consistency and verifying that every file and directory that is represented by a file record segment in the MFT is referenced by at least one directory. Chkdsk confirms that every file or subdirectory that is referenced in a directory actually exists as a valid file record segment in the MFT and also checks for circular directory references. Finally, Chkdsk confirms that the time stamps and file size information for the files are up-to-date in the directory listings for those files.
Phase 3: Checking security descriptors

During this phase, Chkdsk examines each security descriptor that is associated with files or directories on the volume. Security descriptors contain information about ownership of a file or directory, about NTFS permissions for the file or directory, and about auditing for the file or directory.
Phases 4 and 5: Checking sectors (optional)

If the /R switch is in effect, Chkdsk runs two more passes to look for bad sectors. During stage 4, Chkdsk verifies all clusters in use; during stage 5, Chkdsk verifies unused clusters. Note that this process can be quite lengthy. taking many hours.
Caution

Interrupting the Chkdsk process when it is used with the /F or the /R switch is not recommended. The integrity of the disk can be compromised by stopping the process. Do not start a scan if a thunderstorm is expected and you are subject to power failures. I also strongly advise an uninterruptible power supply to guard against short-term power outages or fluctuations.
Running Chkdsk from the Recovery Console

Chkdsk is available from the Windows Recovery Console and can be a very valuable tool in dealing with a system that does not boot properly. The use of the Recovery Console is discussed elsewhere but note that many systems have been rescued by the Recovery Console command chkdsk C: /RSwitches for the Chkdsk command in the Recovery Console are not the same as those in Table I. There are only two: /P : Does an exhaustive check of the drive and corrects any errors. Does not check for bad sectors /R : Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. Includes functions of /P
Autochk.exe

The chkdsk command requires the file Autochk.exe. If it cannot find it in the startup directory (\%systemroot%\System32, by default), it will attempt to locate it on the Windows Installation CD.

Disable Windows Messenger

The messenger referred to here is not to be confused with MSN messenger or other instant messaging services. Unfortunately, XP has two kinds of "Windows Messenger" which have almost the same name. One is an instant messaging application similar to other IM software such as AIM and ICQ. That messenger is the one that you use to chat back and forth with your buddies. The second one is what we will be discussing here and is the so-called "messenger service." This is a built-in service normally running in the background that is intended to allow systems administrators to send pop-up messages concerning maintenance and the like to the users on a local area network. Although this "messenger service" is of no particular use on a stand-alone computer or to most home users, it runs by default. Spammers have discovered that they can use this service to send pop-up messages to computers that are connected to the Internet. Judging from the number of complaints , the practice is pretty wide-spread. The spammers have computers that rapidly scan large numbers of Internet IP addresses and whenever they happen upon someone with an open XP system, a spam message is sent via the messenger service. The hapless PC user suddenly sees a pop-up window intruding on the screen with some sort of unwanted message, usually advertising. The pop-up windows can be identified by the name "Messenger Service" in the title bar. Since pornographic sites are among the active spammers, children may get inappropriate material.

Most typical home users do not need the messenger service, and it is easily turned off. As is usually true in Windows, there are several different ways but here is probably the quickest. Go to Start|Run and enter “services.msc” without the quotes.

The Services module will open, listing all the services, as the next figure shows. Scroll to “Messenger”, highlight it, and then right-click to obtain the context menu.

Choose “Properties” (shown in the next figure) and then in “Startup type” choose “Disabled”. Click “Stop” and “OK”. Of course, you have to be using an account with administrator privileges (not normally a problem with the Home edition of XP)

You can also read the Microsoft article on how to stop Messenger spam. If you prefer a different route, Steve Gibson has written a little program to allow messenger service to be easily turned on and off. The free download and a discussion of the messenger problem is here.

To conclude, here is a word about the other Windows messenger, the one that is an instant messaging program. I do not use it but apparently those who do have also encountered spam or unwanted visitors there as well. To prevent messages from unknown users, go to the “Tools” menu of this program, choose “Options” and make sure that “All Others” is selected in the Block List.

Upgrading to Windows XP

You can upgrade a computer that runs Windows 98, 98SE, or Me to Windows XP Home Edition. Those same versions, along with Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and Windows 2000 Professional, can be upgraded to Windows XP Professional.

(1).To ensure a smooth upgrade and avoid networking problems, follow these tips before starting the upgrade:

(2)Install all network cards. XP will detect them and automatically install the right drivers.

(3)Have your Internet connection available. The XP setup process will connect to a Microsoft server to download the latest setup files, including changes that have been made since XP was released.

Some programs are incompatible with XP and can cause networking problems. Un-install these programs. After the upgrade is complete and the network is working, re-install XP-compatible versions of these programs: Internet Connection Sharing, NAT, Proxy Server Anti-Virus Firewall.

How to Remove Windows XP's Messenger

Theoretically, you can get rid of it (as well as a few other things). Windows 2000 power users should already be familiar with this tweak.

Fire up the Windows Explorer and navigate your way to the %SYSTEMROOT% \ INF folder. What the heck is that thingy with the percentage signs? It's a variable. For most people, %SYSTEMROOT% is C:\Windows. For others, it may be E:\WinXP. Get it? Okay, on with the hack! In the INF folder, open sysoc.inf (but not before making a BACKUP copy first). Before your eyes glaze over, look for the line containing "msmsgs" in it. Near the end of that particular line, you'll notice that the word "hide" is not so hidden. Go ahead and delete "hide" (so that the flanking commas are left sitting next to one another). Save the file and close it. Now, open the Add and Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel. Click the Add / Remove Windows Components icon. You should see "Windows Messenger" in that list. Remove the checkmark from its box, and you should be set. NOTE: there are other hidden system components in that sysoc.inf file, too. Remove "hide" and the subsequent programs at your own risk.

Set the Search Screen to the Classic Look

When I first saw the default search pane in Windows XP, my instinct was to return it to its classic look; that puppy had to go. Of course, I later discovered that a doggie door is built into the applet. Click "Change preferences" then "Without an animated screen character." If you'd rather give it a bare-bones "Windows 2000" look and feel, fire up your Registry editor and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ CabinetState.

You may need to create a new string value labeled "Use Search Asst" and set it to "no"

New Sound Blaster Drivers

With the loads of problems reported by users with Soundblaster cards on Windows XP Creative has stepped up and offered drivers for at least some models of their Sound Blaster cards, but check your particular model closely. I have downloaded the SB128 drivers and my sound problems have been resolved..! So they do work.