XP Guide (nabbed)

[EvilHorace]

I saw this posted elsewhere but it's becoming a huge thread there now so I thought I'd copy and paste the best post of it here (assuming that's OK?)


jfall
Senior Member

Posts: 507
Joined: Oct 2000
Thursday, October 11, 2001 1:56 AM



I have decided to put together a small XP FAQ/Guide becuase all I have been seeing lately is the same XP questions over and over . I thought this would be a quick and easy reference to simple XP issues. Remember, a lot of people have bad first impressions of XP because of the GUI and small annoying things.. it really isn't that bad of an OS if you know how to configure it to suite your needs!


How do I get rid of MSN Messenger?

Click Start > Run and type in `notepad x:\windows\inf\sysoc.inf.


Remove all the HIDE references


Go to Add/Remove Programs and un-install `Windows Messenger`



How do I check to see if DMA is being used?

Right click on My Computer -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers


Chech you primary and secondary controllers. Use DMA If Available should be there.



After I burned XP and tried to install it, I got an ASMS error. What do I do?

Re-burn the CD with Disc-At-Once instead of Track-At-Once



What is the difference between XP Home Edition and Professional?

Click Here to Find Out



How Do I Log in as the Administrator?

On the Windows Login Screen hit Control - Alt - Delete



What version of the Via 4-in-1 Drivers Does XP Come With?

4.33



What Nvidia Video Drivers are best for XP?

Detenator XP from Nvidia



Where can I find more information on Tweaking XP?

http://www.xp-erience.org/


http://www.xteq.com/products/xset/


http://members.aol.com/axcel216/


http://www.totalidea.de/framesetproducts.htm


http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/xp_notes.htm Great Site!



How can I speed up the drop down menus in XP?

You might want to turn off shadow menus under the appearence. Turning it off sped up the menus for me and a lot of other people. Otherwise, try turning off the win xp gui and see if its still slow.



Is there any software giving problems with XP?

Zone Alarm EDIT: New version working


Older versions of Nero


Counter Strike (disable the built in firewall)


Sound problems in Unreal?, check Here


Older versions of Partition Magic (although, they may work on Fat32 partitions)


Older versions of Mcafee, new version should work fine.


Some of the older builds of ICQ, the newest build should work.



What version of Direct-X does XP com with?

8.1



How Do I Disable Error Reporting?

Open Control Panel


Click on Preformance and Maintenance.


Click on System.


Then click on the Advanced tab


Click on the error reporting button on the bottom of the windows.


Select Disable error reporting.


Click OK


Click OK



How do I Create a sortcut to lock XP?

Right click on desktop and select new -> shortcut. Then copy and paste this in the program location box "rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation" Click next and enter a name for you shortcut and then click finish. Now you can copy and paste that shortcut anywhere you want on your computer.



How do I turn of Auto Play in XP?

Go to Start-> Run -> gpedit.msc


Computer Configuration (it's on the right side) -> Administrative Templates -> System


Double Click on "Turn off Autoplay"


Enable it


Close Group Policy Editor



Where can I find more information on Dual Booting?

http://freepctech.com/pc/001/dual_boot_guide.shtml




Where do I get more information on Sound Blaster problems in XP?

First, use Windows Update to get any current drivers.


Also, you can get the XP Sound Blaster Drivers Here: http://www.soundblaster.com/support/winxp/




Where can I get the Refresh Rate Fix for Windows 2000/XP?

http://www.planetquake.com/ztn/nvreffix/nvreffix.html


Or


http://turing.cs.plymouth.edu/~k_demell ... -setup.exe



Any other fixes for removing MSN Messenger?

Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc


User Configuration


Administrative Templates


Windows Components


Windows Messanger: enable "Do not allow Windows Messanger to be run" and "Do not automatically start Windows Messanger initially"



How do I enable advanced security settings like found in Windows 2000?

Open windows explorer then click on Tools->Folder Options


Click on the View Tab.


Scroll to the bottom and deselect (uncheck) the option that reads 'use simple file sharing'


This will allow you to see the security tab when viewing the properties of a file/folder.



What are some more Windows XP tweaking Links?

http://www.windowsxp.nu


http://www.tweakxp.com


http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsxp/pro



Where Can I Change Drive Letters In XP?

Go to: Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Mamangement.



How Do I Lock XP?

Windows Key + L



What Happens When XP Expires?

It will boot and tell you that it has expired and will not let you go any further. Hopefully you will have another OS installed or your pretty much out of luck



How Do I Remove Shared Document Folders in My Computer?

Go To Start > Run and type `Regedit` and press `ok`


Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\My Computer\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\.


Deleted {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}



How Do I Remove Zip Integration?

Go To Start > Run and type: regsvr32 /u %windir%\system32\zipfldr.dll and press `ok`.



How Do I Remove the Default Picture and Fax Preview Action?

Go To Start > Run and type `Regedit` and press `ok`


Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{e84fda7c-1d6a-45f6-b725-cb260c236066}\shellex\


Deleted the MayChangeDefaultMenu key.



Where Do I Clear the `Recent Documents` in XP?

Go To: Start > Settings > Taskbar and Start Menu > Start Menu TAB > Customize.. and press `Clear`.



Tip: Don't forget that Windows XP has taken back the old `MSconfig` like in Win98. This will allow you to change a lot of neat stuff, most commonly what starts up when Windows loads. To run it just go to Start > Run and type in `msconfig` and press `ok`.



How Do I Remove the Recycling Bin From The Desktop?

Go To: Start > Run and type `regedit` and press `ok`.


Deleted: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} and restart your computer.


When you restart, the Recycle Bin is no longer on the desktop. When you delete stuff, it still prompts to send it to the Recycle Bin, as always. To fully delete something, just delete it from C:\Recycled. To view this folder, you have to have everything set to be seen, including hidden folders and procted OS files and all that.



News: Powertoys has been released for XP, here is the link to get it: http://www.xp-erience.org/download.php?op=getit&lid=2 RAR Password: xp-erience.org



Is it possible for me to do a fresh install of XP without a bootable CD?

Yes, you can download the XP bootdisks here: http://www.xp-erience.org/download.php?op=getit&lid=58




Any tips for getting Windows XP to boot faster?

Try here: http://www.microsoft.com/HWDEV/fastboot/




How Do I Disable Native CD Burning in XP?

Right Click the CD in My Computer


Click Properities/Recording


Uncheck `Enable CD Recording On This Drive`




Where Do I Find More Information About Activating XP?

Try Here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/pres ... ActFAQ.asp




Where can I find more information on XP Shutdown Problems?

Try Here: http://www.aumha.org/a/shtdwnxp.htm




What OS's Can I Upgrade to XP Home?

Windows 98 / Windows 98 SE / Windows ME




What OS's Can I Upgrade to XP Pro

Windows 98 / Windows 98 SE / Windows ME / Windows NT4 SP6 / Windows 2000 / XP Home




News: Microsoft has released a bunch of updates for XP available from Windows Update. To check for these updates in XP go to Start > Help & Support > Keep My Computer Up To Date.



Tip: You can also find a pretty good XP FAQ by Soundblaster.com. Here is the link: http://www.soundblaster.com/support/faq/



How Do I Check To See If Windows XP Is Activated?

Click Start > Run and type: `oobe/msoobe /a` and press `ok`.




Thats all that I can think of for now, there are a lot more tweaks/guides out there, but this should answer most of the common questions. Please feel free to add to this. I hope you enjoy the information

-------------------------
System Profile

Edited: Monday 29, October, 2001 at 9:53 AM by jfall



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[FlyingPenguin]

Good info. Thanx!

[EvilHorace]

In the event that one runs into XP errors, this link might also help.

http://www.xp-erience.org/sections.php? ... e&artid=58

[danparkcityut]

Care to let us know where the original post might be?

TX

[dadx2mj]

Origanl post was at Anand Tech

[EvilHorace]

and it was a huge thread. I don't know why some links don't work but maybe I'll see if I can re-copy/paste it here later.