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Network Chico Windows
XP Information
Windows is the most common
personal computer operating system on Earth. More than 210 million
copies of Windows XP have reportedly been sold and Microsoft
reports more than 106 million copies of Service Pack 2 for XP
have been distributed. Below are some tips for Windows users.
And don't forget to review the Network
Chico Windows security
page, the Network Chico Windows resources
and the Network Chico Windows news page.
Saving update patches
[95/98/SE/ME/XP/2K] Vern
wants to save all the updates and patches he installs from the
Microsoft Update web site. He dislikes the amount of time it
takes to download the several tens of megabytes via his 56K dial-up
modem each time he formats and reinstalls Windows XP. Since he
has a CD-RW drive on his PC he'd like to make a CD containing
all the files. The solution is to perform the below steps the
very next time you have reinstalled your Windows operating system:
- Create a new folder on your drive named 'UPDATES' or anything
you prefer
- Log onto the Microsoft Windows Update web site
- When you are presented with the list of updates and patches
click on the "Review and Install" link for each item
(one at a time of course)
- Click on the "Read More" link
- A new window will pop up with a reference to a Knowledgebase
article for that item
- Click on the "Microsoft Security Bulletin" link
located in this window
- When the security bulletin opens up there will be a link
in it to download the item separately. Click on this link
- When Internet Explorer's 'Download' window opens, instruct
it to save the new file in C:\UPDATES
- Perform steps 3 through 8 for each item listed
- When you have all the items downloaded to your 'UPDATES'
folder, use your CD burning software to copy all the items to
a CD-R or CD-RW
- Use your newly created CD as needed
Locked Admin account
[XP,2K] Vern reported
an interesting problem. "I am the administrator of my (Windows
XP) home computer. I went to disable my child's account for a
little while as punishment, and I ended up disabling my own account
by accident. Of course I didn't notice it until I logged out
to see if it had worked. That was the only Admin account on my
computer, and now I have no way to access it. I need help in
reclaiming it."
- Reboot the PC into safe mode by hitting the F8 key during
the boot process
- On the safe mode menu, you will see the user, "Administrator"
listed. (It has a blank password by default). Click on this account
- From the desktop, click on the 'Start' button
- Click on 'Control Panel'
- Click on 'User Accounts'
- Under "Pick a task...," click on 'Change an account'
- Click on the user icon under "Pick an account to change"
- Alter the settings as needed
- Exit all open windows and reboot your computer
Reinstall Windows XP files
[XP] Vern had a virus.
During his process of removing the virus, he had to delete certain
parts of the Windows XP Registry. Then he used his updated anti-virus
software to remove the actual virus. Since then his computer
will not shut down unless done so manually by pushing the power
switch.
He wishes to avoid having to format his hard drive and install
XP again. He asks if there might be a way to avoid this. There
is:
- Click on the 'Start' button.
- Click on the 'Run' button.
- In the "Open:" dialog box, type sfc /scannow.
Note that there is a space after "sfc."
- Have your Windows XP Install disk handy, as you will be asked
to place it in your CD-ROM drive.
This process will reinstall all your Windows XP files without
overwriting your registry. Odds are good the "shut-down
sequence" will be repaired after replacing the system files.
Folder properties security tab
[XP] Network
Chico has received several complaints from clients
claiming they cannot access the Security tab in Folder Properties.
Your hard drive must be formatted in the NTFS format for this
tab to show up. Most users fail to see the tab because their
hard drives are formatted in the FAT32 format.
If you are running Windows XP Pro Edition:
- Open 'Windows Explorer.'
- Click on 'Tools' in the command menu at the top of the window.
- Click on 'Folder Options.'
- Click on 'View.'
- Uncheck the box beside "Use Simple File Sharing."
- Exit all open windows and reboot your computer.
If you are running Windows XP Home Edition:
- Simple file sharing is enforced by default and cannot be
disabled.
- You must boot the computer in safe mode by hitting F8 during
the bootup process.
- Log in to the computer with the 'Administrator' account.
This will allow you to see the Security tab.
Clean out Windows XP's Prefetch folder to speed up boot times
One of Microsoft's big selling points for Windows XP was that
it loads applications much faster than its predecessors. To accomplish
this feat Windows XP uses what is called the "Prefetch technique"
in which the operating system gathers information about each
program that you launch and stores that information in the \Windows\Prefetch
folder. Then on subsequent restarts Windows XP uses the information
in the Prefetch folder to essentially preload parts of those
programs at boot time. Thus, when you launch your application,
it appears to load really fast. However the Prefetch folder can
accumulate too much information over time. This makes the operating
system so busy loading bits and pieces of lots of applications
into memory that it ends up slowing down the boot process. Fortunately
you can clean out the Prefetch folder at any time. Follow these
four steps:
- Access the Run dialog box by pressing [Windows]R.
- Type Prefetch in the Open text box and click OK.
- Press [Ctrl]A to select all the files.
- Press [Delete].
As you use your system Windows XP will rebuild the contents
of the Prefetch folder.
Click for more Windows XP tips and tricks
Windows Internet resources: [external links
will open in a new window]
Windows security at Network Chico
Windows news at Network
Chico
Startup applications list
at Network Chico
Microsoft
Corporation produces the Windows operating systems
Sysinfo
registry information
VersionTracker for Windows
Kayodeok's
resources has many links to Windows information
TechNet Security center from Microsoft
WinGuides
Network technical resources and support for the Windows operating
systems
Safe XP
is a simple to use free tool for securing computers running Windows
Filename.info
is a filename information database
Troubleshooting
Guide for Windows XP
Windows
IT Pro network
LabMice
is the Windows 2000\2003\XP resouce center for IT professionals
ProcessLibrary
is the online resource for process information
Network Chico recommends
the use of the Malicious Software Removal Tool from Microsoft.
The tool is updated monthly and is available via WindowsUpdate.
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