Tips by Jameson Jones-Doyle:
How to perform a clean boot in Windows
Q. How can I uninstall hidden Windows components?
A. When you start the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel applet and select Add/Remove Windows components, the system doesn't display all of
the components because Windows doesn't want them uninstalled. However, you can change which components the system displays. Perform the
following steps:
1. Open the sysoc.inf file located in the %systemroot%\inf folder.
2. Go to the [Components] section.
3. Locate the entry you want to make uninstallable and remove the word "hide." For example, for MSN Messenger Service, change the line
msmsgs=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
to
msmsgs=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7
4. Save the sysoc.inf file.
A. New to Windows XP is the view of other people's documents folders in Windows Explorer when you view the root of My Computer under the "Other
Files Stored on This Computer" section. To remove this section, perform the following steps:
1. Start regedit.exe.
2. Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\DelegateFolders.
3. Delete the subkey {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}.
4. Close regedit.
5. Restart Explorer.
Note that this change affects all of the machine's users because you modify this setting at a machine, not user, level.
A. Internet Explorer (IE) can enter a state where it almost immediately hangs and starts to use 100 percent of CPU time. In particular, trying
to delete Temporary Internet files via Tools, Internet Options triggers this behavior. Also, all attempts to delete files or folders from
%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\TemporaryInternet Files (or wherever the Temporary Internet files folder is
located) causes Windows Explorer to hang. This behavior occurs because the Temporary Internet files database is corrupt.
The Temporary Internet files aren't really files but entries in %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary
Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat. Deleting that file solves the problem.
1. Exit IE and Windows Explorer (iexplore.exe and explorer.exe, respectively, in Task Manager).
2. Use the following command from a command prompt to delete the file:
C:\>del "%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat"
3. Restart IE and Windows Explorer.
Google Answers: Delete index.dat files
A. The impersonation service, Runas, is a nice Windows 2000 feature. But Runas can't run Windows Explorer impersonated because in Win2K, new
Windows Explorer windows are spawned as threads of the main explorer.exe invocation. You can circumvent this behavior in the following way:
1. Select Start, Run, and type
runas /user:administrator "\"c:\program files\internet
explorer\iexplore\" c:\\"
2. Click OK.
3. When the system prompts you, enter your Administrator password. This command executes Windows Explorer in the desired context; adding a
local path makes Windows Explorer emulate the default (i.e., no Windows Explorer bars or buttons).
A. Windows Update is a great tool for updating your computers; however, if you want to control the deployment of fixes, you might want to disable Windows Update. To disable it at a Group Policy level, perform the following steps:
1. Start Group Policy Editor (GPE), and load the desired Group Policy Object (GPO).
2. Expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start menu and Taskbar.
3. Double-click "Disable and Remove Links to Windows Update" (Windows 2000) or "Remove links and access to Windows Update" (Windows XP).
4. Select Enabled and click OK.
5. Close GPE.
You can also edit the registry to disable Windows Update on a per user basis:
1. Start regedit.exe on the machine where you want to disable Windows Update.
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
3. From the Edit menu, select New, DWORD value.
4. Enter a name of NoWindowsUpdate, and press Enter.
5. Double-click NoWindowsUpdate, and set it to 1.
6. Close regedit.
You don't need to reboot. If the user tries to start Windows Update, the system will display the following error message:
Windows Update was disabled by your system Administrator.
A. To get ANSI support, perform the following steps:
1. Create a shortcut to command.com.
2. Create a file called ansi.nt.
3. Include the following lines in the ansi.nt file:
dosonly
device=%systemroot%\system32\ansi.sys
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
files=40
dos=high,umb
4. Under Properties for the command.com shortcut, go to the Programs tab. In the Config Path field, enter the path to ansi.nt.
Now when you open the shortcut, any DOS applications you run will have ANSI support.
You have users in your organization who want to be able to install programs on their systems. You give them the rights they need to do so, but now you're concerned that they might mess up their Windows 2000 configuration or install programs that you don't want on your network (such as IIS on their workstations).
You can deal with this problem by using Group Policies, but you can also stop users from adding (or removing) Windows components by removing the
Add/Remove Windows Components section from the Win2K Add/Remove Programs applet. To do so, perform the following steps:
1. Run regedt32.
2. Go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Uninstall.
3. Edit the REG_DWORD data type value name NoWindowsSetupPage.
4. Set the data value to 0 to disable it.
5. Set the data value to 1 and the Add/Remove Windows Components Button won't display under Add/Remove Programs.
Identify where in the boot up process the system is failing. Do this by intercepting the boot sequence. On Windows 98 and Me, hold down the CTRL
key during boot up. Select option 2, "Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT)," from the Startup menu. This will make a record of each module as it loads, much
like an airplane's "black box flight recorder." All this information is written to a text file called BOOTLOG.TXT that is stored in the root directory of the boot volume.
Application Data
Desktop
My Documents
Start menu
Redirected Folders has another benefit: it makes backing up users' documents a much less painful process because all documents are stored in a central
location. The biggest challenge is educating users to store documents in their My Documents folders.
You should spend some time learning what all of the Redirected Folders options mean and check the Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit's best practices
for implementing this feature. In general, though, the default settings are the most appropriate.
A. By default, XP hides the lower graphics resolutions (e.g., 256 colors, 640x480) from the user. To access these graphics resolutions, perform the following steps:
1. Start the Display Control Panel applet (go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, Display).
2. Select the Settings tab.
3. Click the Advanced button, and select the Adapter tab.
4. Click List All Modes to select the graphics mode you want, and click OK.
5. Close all the dialog boxes.
* TIP: DISABLE BALLOON TIPS
( contributed by David Chernicoff, david@winnetmag.com )
Windows XP's balloon tips can be annoying. Their behavior is erratic, and often they pop up and get in the way. You can easily turn off
balloon tips by following these steps:
1. Launch regedit.
2. Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Create a new DWORD value called EnableBalloonTips.
4. Give the entry a value of 0 to disable the tips and a value of 1 to turn them back on.
* USING AUDITPOL TO CHANGE SECURITY AUDIT SETTINGS IMMEDIATELY
As you know, maintaining a secure, healthy network entails auditing server and workstation activity and examining logs frequently for signs of intrusion or
unexpected events. Each time you use Group Policy or Local Security Policy to adjust security audit settings, you must force a policy refresh to update the
settings for each system on which you want to implement the changes. When you use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Local Security Policy snap-in to modify security audit settings, you must remember to use the secedit /refreshpolicy machine_policy command to manually refresh the policy and
activate the changes. If you don't refresh the policy, the system will remember the new audit settings but fail to implement the changes until you reboot the
system (rebooting refreshes the security policy).
When you suspect that a system is under attack, you can use AuditPol to implement security audit changes on a specific system immediately. Unlike other,
more dated resource kit tools, AuditPol functions exactly as its documentation states. You can use AuditPol to enable or disable security auditing on local or
remote systems and to adjust the audit criteria for nine categories of security events. For the complete story and details about using AuditPol, visit the
following URL: http://www.win2000mag.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=23684
* TIP: PREVENT USERS FROM ADDING LOCAL ACCOUNTS
(contributed by David Chernicoff, david@winnetmag.com)
I recently discovered that some of our interns were creating extra local accounts on their Windows 2000 Professional systems. I didn't want to further lock down the accounts that they were using, so I manually removed this ability from the computers by performing the following steps:
1. Log on to the computer as a member of the Local Administrators group.
2. Open a command prompt, and use the net command net localgroup users "NT AUTHORITY\INTERACTIVE" /DELETE.
3. Log out.
This process removes the ability for a local account to create a new account on that machine. An administrator can reverse the process if necessary.
* FAQ: HOW CAN I EXECUTE MICROSOFT SNAP-IN CONSOLE FILES WITHOUT TYPING THE .MSC
EXTENSION?
( contributed by John Savill, http://www.windows2000faq.com )
A. By default, you don't have to type the extension to run certain file types
(e.g., .exe, .bat). To add the Microsoft Snap-in Console to this list, you need
to add .msc to your PATHEXT variable. To change this setting for one command
session, type
set pathext=%pathext%;.msc
To change this setting for all of Windows, you need to modify the system
environment variable by performing the following steps (click OK when prompted
to close each dialog box):
1. Start the Control Panel System applet (go to Start, Settings, Control Panel,
System).
2. Select the Advanced tab.
3. Click Environment Variables.
4. Under "System variables," double-click PATHEXT.
5. Click Edit and add ;.msc to the end of the string, then click OK.
You can now start the Microsoft Snap-in Console without typing the .msc file
extension after the snap-in filename (e.g., devmgmt).
I often receive questions from users who want to move Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) bookmarks from one computer to another. The task is simple, though not very intuitive.
1. Launch IE.
2. From the File menu, select Import and Export to launch the Import/Export Wizard.
3. Export all of your Favorites sites (or any folder under Favorites) to an .html file that you can read in a browser or text editor. You can also export your cookies to a file.
4. Transfer the files to the target computer and run the Import/Export Wizard, selecting Import for your Favorites or cookies.
If you work with HTML pages, you probably have a favorite HTML editor. Even code dinosaurs like me, who prefer to use text editors, have begun to switch to editors that handle syntax checking and can catch simple errors in code. When you click View, Source in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), the browser opens Notepad, but changing the browser to open the editor of your choice is simple.
Launch regedit, then edit the following registry subkeys. In the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Default HTML Editor subkey, change the REG_SZ "Description" data to the name of your editor. In the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Default HTML Editor\shell\edit\command subkey, change the default REG_SZ data to the fully qualified pathname for your editor (e.g., c:\program files\html editor\editor.exe).
Failure during a Windows 2000 Setup or a Windows 2000 service pack installation can sometimes result in the creation of a small temporary page file, which isn't deleted on completion. This temporary page file prevents Windows 2000 from creating its regular, larger page file when it boots. This causes poor performance because of the small size of the page file.
If Windows 2000 is the only operating system on the machine, you can't simply delete the temporary page file and allow Windows 2000 to create another. Reconfiguring the page file settings through the GUI doesn't correct the problem, because Windows 2000 is still unable to create the new page file with the old one in use.
To locate the temporary page file, look in the %systemroot% folder for a file named Pagefile.sys. Next, boot the system to the Recovery Console (RC). (You can boot the RC from the Windows 2000 CD if it isn't already installed.) The page file is a hidden system file, so the RC won't let you see or delete the file. However, you can replace the file with another file, and then delete that replacement file to clear it out for good.
1. In the RC, use the CD command to change to the folder where the page file is located.
2. Use the COPY command to copy any other file over Pagefile.sys. (For example, you can use the command COPY WIN.INI PAGEFILE.SYS to replace Pagefile.sys with a copy of Win.ini.)
3. Next, enter the command DEL PAGEFILE.SYS to delete the page file.
4. Exit the RC, and boot Windows 2000.
5. Right-click My Computer and choose Properties, and then click the Advanced tab.
6. Click Performance Options
* TIP: DISABLING A REOCCURRING PROMPT WHILE TRYING TO OPEN A TIF FILE
( contributed by John Savill, http://www.windows2000faq.com )
Q. Why does Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 6.0 prompt me for an action when I click a .tif file, even after I've cleared the "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box?
A. When you select a link to a .tif file in IE, the browser will always prompt you to either open or save the file unless you clear the "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box. However, a bug in IE 6.0 can cause the browser to lose this setting, forcing you to make a decision each time you access a .tif file. To resolve this problem, perform the following steps:
When you install Windows 2000 to a new folder or partition on anexisting Windows 9x system, you can dual-boot between the two. Windows 2000 Setup modifies the boot sector to load the Windows 2000 boot loader at boot.The boot loader gives you the option of booting either Windows 2000 or Windows 9x depending on the selection you make from the boot menu, which isdefined in the Boot.ini file.
If you decide that you no longer want to use Windows 2000 on thecomputer, you can keep the system as it is, deleting the system folder but continuing to use the boot loader to boot Windows 9x.
A cleaner solution, however, is to remove all Windows 2000 files, including the boot loader. To do so, boot the computer to Windows 9x and insert a blank, formatted diskette in drive A. Then, open a DOS prompt and execute this command: SYS A:.
This copies the system files to the diskette so you can use it to boot the computer to a DOS prompt. You can also format the disk through the GUI and choose the option to copy the system files to it to create the boot disk.
Next, copy the files Sys.com, Format.com, and Fdisk.exe to the diskette. Boot the computer using the diskette, and then execute this command: SYS C:.
This overwrites the existing boot files and restores the Windows 9x boot loader. Then you can remove the Windows 2000 folder and the boot files Ntldr.exe, Boot.ini, Ntdetect.com, Arcsetup.exe, and Arcldr.exe from the computer. If Windows 2000 is installed in a different partition, use Fdisk to remove the Windows 2000 partition or Format to reformat it for use with Windows 9x.
If you run Setup.exe from an existing Windows 2000 installation and install to a new folder, Setup doesn't remove the existing installation. In fact, you can dual-boot between the two. It's unlikely that you would want to do so, however, unless you need to test different configurations and don't want to reconfigure the existing installation. Or, perhaps you want to have a backup installation you can use to boot the system if the original becomes unstable or unbootable.
If you don't need both copies, you can remove one. To do so, first edit Boot.ini to remove the entry for the Windows 2000 installation you'll be removing. Make sure to check the path in the entry to be sure you're deleting the right one. Then, change the value of the DEFAULT entry in the [boot loader] section to point to the installation you're keeping.
When you reboot the system, it will boot to the copy of Windows 2000 that you want to keep, assuming you made the correct changes to Boot.ini. You can check to be sure by opening a command console and typing the following command, which echoes the system root folder to the console:
ECHO %systemroot%
When you're satisfied that you've booted the right copy, you can open Windows Explorer and delete the old Windows 2000 system folder.
A. When you tell NT to shut down, it first sends shutdown requests to any running processes. Most 32-bit applications honour these requests and shut down, but older 16-bit apps running in the Virtual DOS Machine often won't. When this occurs, the operating system prompts you with a dialog box asking if you want to kill the task, wait for the task to die on its own, or cancel the shutdown. By modifying the Registry, you can automate this process.
You can force NT to kill all running processes on shutdown by performing the following:
Start the registry editor (regedit.exe)
Move to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
If a value "AutoEndTasks" does not exist from the Edit menu select New - String Value. Enter a name of AutoEndTasks and press Enter
Double click on AutoEndTasks and set to 1. Click OK
Close the registry editor
You can also add this key to HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop for new users to inherit.
http://www.windows2000faq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=14915
WinXP - Eliminate Balloon Tips in the Notification Area
Most of the balloon tips tied to the notification area on the taskbar serve little or no purpose for experienced users; they're just distracting. To turn off the tips, run the Registry editor and navigate to the subkey HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced. (Always use caution when editing the Registry. Any errors can cause system problems and data loss.)
Right-click on the right pane, create a new DWORD value, and name it EnableBalloonTips. Then double-click on the new entry and give it a value of 0 (zero). Close the Registry editor and restart Windows.
Note that this change will turn off all the balloon tips, which means that you may have to adjust some other options. If, for example, you have Automatic Update set to notify you before downloading anything, notifications of critical updates won't be as obvious. You may want to change your Automatic Update options or update manually.
WinXP - Remove Hidden Windows Components
If you've been looking for a way to remove Windows Messenger or other Windows components that don't show in the Add or Remove Programs applet, here's the secret. Windows keeps a list of components in a file called Sysoc.inf in C:\Windows\ Inf. Some of the entries under the [Components] heading, among them the line for Messenger, include the word hide. To make them visible to the Add or Remove Programs applet so that you can remove them, you have to delete the instruction to hide them.
First, make sure that Windows Explorer is set to display hidden files: In Windows Explorer, choose Tools | Folder Options, then the View tab, and set the option to Show hidden files and folders. Also remove the check from the check box labeled Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
After clicking OK, you can navigate to the C:\Windows\Inf folder. Open Sysoc.inf in Notepad and find the line msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7. Delete the word hide, being careful to leave the commas. Save and close the file.
Next, go to the Control Panel, choose Add or Remove Programs, and when the applet opens, choose Add/Remove Windows Components. Windows Messenger should now appear in the list. You can make other hidden components appear in the applet by following the same steps.
--------------------------------------
Windows Messenger
Pop-Ups
--------------------------------------
One relatively new form of pop-up that has been annoying Internet users with potentially dangerous effects is spam being sent using the Windows Messaging feature in Windows XP. This is not the instant messaging software that is used by millions of computer users, but rather an administrative tool that is meant to be used by systems administrators to contact users.
While there are utilities that claim to stop such pop-ups, the Windows Messenger feature is relatively easy to disable. To disable the Windows Messenger in Windows XP:
In Windows XP --> Control Panel --> Administrative Tools.
Double-click Services.
Double-click Messenger.
In the Startup type list, choose Disabled.
Click Stop, and then click OK.
WinXP - Create Flexible Music Files
By default, Windows Media Player creates protected WMA files when you rip CDs. Because protected files require licenses for playback, you won't be able to listen to the files on another computer. But you can turn this feature off. In Windows Media Player, open the Tools menu and select Options. Then click on the Copy Music tab, and uncheck the box next to Protect music.
WinXP - Where Did The Status Bar Go?
WinXP - Fix A Mangled IP Configuration
In the days before Windows XP, a corrupted IP installation could often be fixed simply by removing and reinstalling TCP/IP. In most cases, the IP-related files remained intact, but some related Registry keys would be corrupted beyond repair.
You can't uninstall TCP/IP in Windows XP, because there is no Uninstall button for this protocol. According to Microsoft, that is because TCP/IP is an integral part of the operating system, and removing it would cause major problems. You can, however, use the Windows XP command line utility NetShell to reset all IP-related Registry settings to their default values. The result is a brand-new TCP/IP configuration.
The Netsh.exe program is located in the C:\Windows\ System32 directory. To use the program, enter the command "netsh int ip reset filename." You must specify a filename, such as Ipstuff.txt. After Netsh .exe runs, the file will contain a detailed log of the Registry keys that were modified.
WinXP - Shorten the Start menu Delay
If you have ever been annoyed by the built-in delay before a menu displays in Windows, you can eliminate it. To do this, open Regedit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel \Desktop\menushowDelay. The default value is 400 (milliseconds); lowering the value will speed up how quickly menus display. This change will take effect after you reboot.
Use DMA Mode For All ATAPI Drives
Slave drives on ATAPI channels are often set to PIO mode by default, even if they are capable of modes such as UltraATA or DMA, which allow more efficient data transfers. This means CD/DVD burning, DVD playback, and other performance may suffer unnecessarily.
To fix this problem, in Windows 2000 or XP, open the System applet in the Control Panel and select Device Manager in the Hardware tab. Choose Advanced Settings, and change the transfer mode for each drive to DMA if possible. For Windows 98 or Me, go to Device Manager, then Disk Drives | Hard disk properties and click the Settings tab. Click the DMA box. There's no harm done if a device can't handle DMA mode.
Optimize The Paging File
You can reduce the annoying lag created by constant paging by increasing your paging file size and by making the file static so that Windows doesn't have to resize it all the time. If you can, place the paging file in its own partition—or, if at all possible, place it on a separate physical hard drive from the Windows drive. Frequently defrag whatever drive the paging file resides on.
To change the settings, open the Control Panel and double-click on System. Click on the Advanced tab, and then, under Performance Settings, go to the Advanced tab and click on Change. (In Windows 98 or Me, go to the System Control Panel applet, to the Performance tab, and then to the Virtual Memory settings.) Here you can change the size and drive location of the paging file.
First, if you have more than one local drive available, you can select the one that you want the paging file on. (You cannot change the file's location in Windows 98 or Me.) Next, specify the paging file's initial size in megabytes. There are many theories to determine the perfect size, but just make it as large as your hard drive can spare within reason, up to 2GB. Then enter the same number for the file's maximum size. Click Set. You'll have to reboot for the changes to take effect.
Windows 2000 screensaver
Craig in Annapolis, Maryland, is looking for a way to specify the screensaver that Windows 2000 uses when there aren't any users logged in.
You can pick a screen savers that specific users can use, but when no one is logged in, Windows 2000 has a default screensaver. A viewer named Kenderson recommends the following instructions.
Hide drive letters in My Computer - TechRepublic 20030918
Have you ever needed to hide a drive on a system? For example, suppose you manage a system shared by multiple users in a public area, and you keep diagnostic and management applications on a separate drive.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to hide that drive from users to prevent any mischievous exploration? You can do so with a simple registry edit.
Follow these steps:
Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
Right-click the Servers key, and select New | DWORD value.
Name the value NoDrives.
Press [Enter] twice to open the Edit DWORD Value dialog box.
Using the list below, type a number that corresponds to the drive you want to hide in the Value Data text box, and click OK.
A: 1
B: 2
C: 4
D: 8
E: 16
F: 32
Close the Registry Editor.
You must restart the system or log out of Windows XP in order for the change to take effect.
To hide other drive letters that we didn't list, follow the pattern of doubling the number for each successive drive. For example, drive G: would have a value of 64.
To hide multiple drives, add the values together. For example, to hide drives A: and B:, use a value of 3. If you want to hide all drive letters, use a value of 67108864.
Note: Editing the registry is risky, so be sure you have a verified backup before making any changes.
"It is Now Safe to Turn Off Your Computer" Error Message When You Try to Shut Down Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=810903
Add/Remove hidden programs in Windows XP and 2000.
We all want to uninstall everything Windows doesn't completely need to run optimally. Problem is, some programs you don't want taking up space hide away. They're next to impossible to find, much less remove.
Don't worry, because tonight I have a Windows tweak that'll help you immediately. Yes, we showed you how to do it back in November 2001, but my gut and my inbox tell me I should mention it again.
Posted October 2, 2003 - Modified October 1, 2003
gapi32.dll..... errors in XP
You can add or remove many of the applications included with Windows 2000 Professional via Control Panel. However, you can't remove Outlook Express using this method. If you don't use Outlook Express or you need to reinstall it, you can manually remove it.
This process isn't complicated, but it does involve several steps. Start by setting folder options to display both hidden files and protected operating system files. After making sure you've backed up any Outlook Express data if necessary, rename the following folders, adding _old at the end of each:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Identities
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Address Book
Next, open the Registry Editor, and delete the following keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WAB
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{7790769C-0471-11D2-AF11-00C04FA35D02}
Finally, search for and rename the following files. Note that each file resides in two locations. Rename both copies, adding _old to the end of each.
Inetcomm.dll
Msoeacct.dll
Msoert2.dll
Msoe.dll
Msoeres.dll
Msimn.exe
Oeimport.dll
Oemiglib.dll
Oemig50.exe
Setup50.exe
Wab.exe
Wabfind.dll
Wabimp.dll
Wabmig.exe
Csapi3t1.dll
Directdb.dll
Wab32.dll
Wab32res.dll
Windows will display a file protection warning. Click Cancel when prompted to enter the Windows 2000 CD, and click Yes when Windows asks if you want to keep the unrecognized file versions. Restart the computer after you've renamed the files.
Note: Editing the registry is risky, so be sure you have a verified backup before saving any changes.
Prevent logon if a roaming profile fails
Users who have roaming profiles can log on from any location in the network, and their profile follows them to their logon location. Roaming profiles help these users access the same desktop and working environment regardless of logon location.
If Windows 2000 is unable to download the roaming profile because it is unavailable or contains errors that prevent it from loading, Windows attempts to load the user's profile from the local computer, if available. Failing that, Windows loads the local default user profile instead.
If you prefer that roaming users can't log on unless the computer can download their roaming profile, enable the following policy: Computer Configuration\
Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Log Users Off When Roaming Profile Fails. Then, if Windows can't obtain the user's roaming profile, it will log off the user.
In addition to setting a policy to prevent logon if the roaming profile fails, you might also want to prevent Windows from caching the roaming profile on the local computer when a roaming user does log on. To prevent local caching of the profile, enable the following policy: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Delete Cached Copies Of Roaming Profiles.
Create a boot log for troubleshooting
Problems that you're troubleshooting in Windows XP often originate in the boot process. As such, one of your key troubleshooting techniques should be to create a boot log. Creating such a log is a relatively easy process.
Follow these steps:
Restart the system.
When the operating system begins to load, press [F8].
Select the Enable Boot Logging option from the Windows Advanced menu, and press [Enter].
After the system restarts, launch Notepad, and open the C:\Windows\Ntbtlog.txt file. This file contains a list of all of the files that Windows XP attempted to load during startup.
Every line in the file will begin with either "Loaded driver" or "Did not load driver," which makes it easy to determine what drivers or services could be causing the problem. In either case, the path and filename of the driver or service will follow.
Delete an "undeletable" file
Local Machine Zone Lockdown = LMZ Lockdown
ZIP files
Slow disk access (especially from MyComputer and Windows Explorer)
Cmd.exe does not support UNC names as the current directory
To remove the "Shortcut to..." text string instances from ALL your existing and ANY new Shortcuts you will create from now on, run Regedit and go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Create a new Binary value called "link": right-click on an empty spot -> select Binary [hex] Value -> name it "link" (no quotes).
If "link" is already present: double-click on it -> type as many zeroes as necessary until it reads:
00 00 00 00
Click OK. Don't type the spaces.
Restart your system and the "Shortcut To" text prefix is gone.
Note: This applies to all your existing as well as and newly added shortcuts!
Remove the 'Shortcut to...' Prefix on Shortcuts (All Windows) at Registry Guide for Windows
Registry Settings
User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
Value Name: link
Data Type: REG_BINARY (Binary Value)
Value Data: (00 00 00 00 = No Shortcut Text)
Outlook
No Auto-restart for Scheduled Automatic Update Installation Options
This policy specifies that to complete a scheduled installation, Automatic Updates will wait for the computer to be restarted by any user who is logged on, instead of causing the computer to restart automatically.
If the status is set to Enabled, Automatic Updates will not restart a computer automatically during a scheduled installation if a user is logged on to the computer. Instead, Automatic Updates will notify the user to restart the computer in order to complete the installation.
Be aware that Automatic Updates will not be able to detect future updates until the restart occurs.
If the status is set to Disabled or Not Configured, Automatic Updates will notify the user that the computer will automatically restart in 5 minutes to complete the installation.
This policy applies only when Automatic Updates is configured to perform scheduled installations of updates. If the Configure Automatic Updates policy is disabled, this policy has no effect.
To inhibit auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Update installation options
Group Policy Object Editor
In Group Policy Object Editor (gpedit.msc)
In the details pane, click No auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Update installation options, and set the option.
Click OK.
How To Disable Forced Restarts After A Windows Update
Automatic restart/reboot after update
Cmd.exe does not support UNC names as the current directory
Restricting Lock Workstation
You can prevent the user of a workstation from locking it using the Windows 2000 Lock Workstation button on the Windows Security dialog box. For security reasons, you may not want to set this option, but it is available nonetheless. Set this entry to 1 to disable the Lock Workstation button. This entry does not appear by default in the Registry; you must add it.
Root Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Key: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Entry: DisableLockWorkstation Data Type: REG_DWORD Windows XP ??
Pop-up window or Popup
See also Windows Shortcuts ...
PrintScreen - to copy a graphic of the whole screen to the clipboard
Alt-PrintScreen - to copy a graphic of the active window to the clipboard
Ctrl-C - to copy the message contents (text) to the clipboard
Clipboard
See also Windows Shortcuts ...
How to Copy and Paste Multiple Items in One Shot | News & Opinion | PCMag.com
Annoying Error Messages
Change the Windows Explorer Default Startup Folder
Click Start/All Programs/Accessories, and then right-click Windows Explorer. On the menu that appears, click Properties.
In the Target box, append the "/root" command-line switch to the "%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe" command, using the startup location that you want. For example, if you want Windows Explorer to start at the root of drive C, edit the command to the following: %SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe /root, C:\. To have C open expanded: explorer /n,/e,c:\For it to open to My Documents:
explorer /n,/e,%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\My Documents. (Explorer /root, c:\Documents and Settings\%username%\My Documents).
To Stop Windows Explorer from opening My Documents
KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. In the right pane under Userinit, Change the key that reads:
C:\Windows\System32\Userinit.exe,C:\Windows\System32\Userinit.exe
To:
C:\Windows\System32\Userinit.exe ,
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_mydocs.htm
My Computer Icon Displays My Documents Folders of Other User
Logon Script MapNetworkDrive - Example VBS already connected
Hacking Windows XP: Speed Up Your Boot
Update to increase the performance of the network redirector
Problem:
While attempting to format a second hard drive on a WindowsXP computer:
Error Message: "Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other porgrams that are using this drive, and make sure that no window is displaying the contents of the drive. Then try formatting again." Assuming that this drive is NOT the boot drive (C:). Although this is a common problem, I couldn't even find the solution on Google.
Solution: Remove virtual memory (Page File) from the drive that you want to format.
Control Panel > System > Properties > Advanced (tab) > Performance > Settings (button) > Advanced (tab) > Virtual Memory - Change (button) > Click on the drive you want to format > No paging file (radio button) > Set (button) > OK
SYMPTOMS
When opening a file with the extension .tif using a double-click, you receive the following error message:
Windows cannot find 'Drive:\Path\FileName.tif'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.
Arranger successfully opens the image.
CAUSE
The .tif file type association is incorrectly registered.
RESOLUTION
Follow these steps to correctly register the file type association:
While holding the Shift key, right-click a file with the extension .tif, point to Open With, and then select Choose Program.
In the Recommended Programs list select the second Image Arranger Application listed.
Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box, and then click OK.
Index.dat files are files impossible to delete under windows, and it stores all the information of your surfing history, you can be followed through these dangerous files. and even if you delete your cookies and your history, these index.dat files remain there and become bigger and bigger, their original size is 16kb but they can reach up until 600kb.
To preserve your privacy I found a way to delete them.. it's impossible to do in windows thus you have to reboot your computer then press F8 or F5 for advanced boot options; then choose "safe mode with command prompt; log in as administrator and then from there you can delete them freely without windows preventing it.
just go to the root (c:\) by typing CD\
then type del index.dat /s then enter
and all the files names index dat in your computer will be deleted permanently.
for more security; also in command prompt mode; go and completely delete your cookies folder to be completely sure all your internet cache and history is gone forever. (well until you start browsing again; as soon as you boot up normally windows will recreate them.. But blank)
Google Answers: Delete index.dat files
MSO stands for MicroSoft Office
First, Microsoft does have a Knowledgebase article on this, though the title's not particularly helpful: (d-51117a) Local Install Source (Msocache).
The bottom line is that it's simple a local copy of Microsoft Office's installation source. Put another way, it's a copy of portions of the Microsoft Office installation CD. Why? so that you don't have to insert the CD when you add a feature, perform a repair operation, or install service packs and patches.
Msocache is created, quoting the KB article:
...if the following conditions are true:
You can delete the folder, but, that same Knowledgebase article goes on to say, "Never delete the MSOCACHE folder by using Microsoft Windows Explorer." Why, I do not know. They suggest using the Windows Disk Cleanup Wizard.
thumbs.db
index.dat
To delete all these files that accumulate in each folder on the drive:
Boot to DOS Safe Mode
dir index.dat /s
del index.dat /s
Google Answers: Delete index.dat files
Could not reconnect all network drives
Ways to keep Windows XP fresh intro
Maximize the application