What is System Restore?

System Restore is a Windows XP feature that has its roots in Windows ME. It allows users to save all important system files—a process called creating a checkpoint—and restore them later if something happens with the system. It's essentially a feature that allows users to go back in time and undo all changes to a system.

How it works
System Restore monitors system files and creates checkpoints at the time of significant system events (e.g., driver and application installation) and periodically (every 24 hours). Periodical restore points are only created when the CPU is idle. Additionally, users can manually create restore points through the System Restore utility found in Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools.

By default, System Restore will use up to 12 percent of a user's hard drive to store restore points. This means that users can store several restore points on the hard drive, which are ready to be rolled back. The exact number of restore points depends on the available space on the hard drive. Larger hard drives have more restore points that can be saved. When there is not enough space, older points are deleted. All restore points are compressed using NTFS compression.

Enabling System Restore
System Restore is enabled automatically once Windows XP is installed. Keep in mind that System Restore requires at least 200 MB of free space on each partition; otherwise, it is disabled and all previous restore points are lost. When more than 200 MB of free space becomes available, System Restore is turned on automatically.

What's the Process?

When you're troubleshooting problems, it can be helpful to look up information about the running processes. You can do this from the Task Manager, which you open by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del. But more information is available in this view than you may think. After opening the Processes tab, click View | Select Columns. Here you can add useful information—such as the process identifier (or PID), CPU time, and peak memory usage associated with each process—to the main Processes window.

Where Did The Status Bar Go?

Some Windows XP users have noticed that when they have multiple Internet Explorer windows open, the Status bar (at the bottom of the IE screen) appears only in the first window opened. To make it appear in every IE window, follow these steps.

Start with one instance of IE. Select View | Status Bar. Now press Ctrl while clicking the X in the upper-right-hand corner of the window to close the application. Next, open My Computer and select View | Status Bar. Finally, go to Tools | Folder Options and select the View tab. Click Apply to all folders, confirm the dialog, and then close Windows Explorer.

Where'd that printer come from?

The Automatic Search for Network Printers and Folders may have been intended to make your life a little simpler. But this time-saving feature can be a real annoyance if you work on a large LAN or move your laptop among several networks.

When your computer is connected to a LAN, this feature periodically polls the network to see whether any new printers or shared directories are available on the LAN. When Windows XP detects a new shared directory, it automatically adds a shortcut icon to My Network Places. Similarly, new printers are added to the Printers and Faxes folder. This can be convenient on a small LAN with just a few shared folders and printers, but on larger LANs, where users don't want or need to see every shared resource, this feature can cause confusion.

Fortunately, the auto-search feature is easy to turn off. Go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options. Then click the View tab. The first item in the Advanced settings area is Automatically search for network folders and printers. Uncheck the check box to turn the feature off.

Windows 2000–Style Log-on

The Windows XP Welcome screen provides any intruder with a list of user accounts, some of which may even offer helpful password hints. To replace the Welcome screen permanently with the more secure Windows 2000–style log-on box, launch the Control Panel's User Accounts applet, click on Change the way users log on or off, and uncheck Use the Welcome screen. (This will also disable Fast User Switching.)

Protect Your Accounts

For additional security, you can force users to press Ctrl-Alt-Del at log-on (to prevent Trojan horses from taking over your system) and eliminate the automatic display of the last user's name in the log-on box. Launch Regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\System. Find or create a DWORD value named Don'tDisplayLastUserName and set its data to 1. In the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ Winlogon key, find or create a DWORD value named DisableCAD and set its data to 0 (zero).

Note: You must be using the Windows 2000–style log-on, as discussed in the above.

Windows Explorer Displays System32 Folder at Start-Up

This problem is fairly common in Windows NT 4.0, 2000, and XP. It's caused by an erroneous entry in one of the Registry keys that control programs launched at start-up. The two keys in question are HKEY_ CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.

Each named value within these two keys represents a program launched at start-up; each value's data holds the command to be executed. If the command is blank or contains just a character in double quotation marks, this missing data can cause Windows Explorer to display the System32 folder at start-up.

To fix the problem launch REGEDIT from the Start menu's Run dialog and navigate to one of the keys mentioned above. Select Export from the Registry menu and export the key to a REG file, so you can undo any deletions if necessary. Look carefully at each value in the right-hand pane. If the value's data is blank, contains only single quotation marks, or otherwise appears to be corrupted, delete the value. Repeat the process for the other key, then restart your system to verify that the problem Explorer window does not appear at start-up.

Windows Update Later

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog/en/default.asp

Windows Update and drivers page.

separate of actual Windows Update

Can d/l for later use!!!

Windows XP Changes Filename Sorting

Microsoft changed the filename sort algorithm in Windows XP, making it different from all previous versions. The only reference I've found is the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q318872 that addresses an incorrect sort order in Windows XP. This article in turn refers to a new Windows API function called StrCmpLogicalW, which implements the new sort algorithm.

I have almost 5,000 filenames that were constructed so that Windows Explorer would sort the filenames chronologically (using the old character-by-character sort algorithm). These files have been distributed across the United States. I now have the task of renaming all these files so that Windows XP will sort them chronologically and still have them sort correctly in previous Windows versions.

There is a small Registry fix that will restore the old sort order, but I can't rely on all my users installing this fix. I want to bring this to the attention of computer users. As users develop program tasks that require filename sorts, they need to be aware of this unpublicized Microsoft change that will directly impact their desired end results.

There are actually two distinct points here. First, Windows XP has a new sorting algorithm for filenames. Second, this algorithm may break down when filenames contain ten or more consecutive digits. The problem with long strings of digits has been fixed in the latest Windows XP service pack, but the change to the sort algorithm remains.

In previous versions of Windows, filenames are sorted text-wise, character by character. File1.txt, File10.txt, and File100.txt are all placed before File2.txt, because the digit 1 comes before the digit 2. Most users have grown accustomed to zero-padding sequential numbers in filenames—File010.txt correctly comes after File002.txt. Under Windows XP, though, each block of consecutive digits is treated as a number and sorted as such. Even without zero-padding, File10.txt comes after File2.txt.

For most users, this will be a benefit, not a problem. If you're one of the few who have developed solutions that rely on the old order, you can make the Registry tweak mentioned above. Launch REGEDIT from the Start menu's Run dialog and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ Currentversion\Policies\Explorer. In the right-hand pane, find or create a DWORD value named NoStrCmpLogical. Double-click it and set its data to 1 (no matter whether it's hex or decimal). Now Win XP will sort filenames the old way.

Work around Windows Product Activation

Have you ever wanted to reinstall Windows XP on a particular computer but chose not to because you weren't sure what you'd encounter when it came to Windows Product Activation (WPA)?

Well, there's no need to be concerned because information about the current activation is stored in an encrypted database file named Wpa.dbl, which you can back up and then restore once you've reinstalled XP. Keep in mind that this technique allows you only to reinstall XP on the same computer--it isn't a hack to pirate the OS.

Here's how to back up the Wpa.dbl file:

1. Insert a blank, formatted disk into the floppy disk drive.

2. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

3. Right-click the Wpa.dbl file and select Send To | 3-1/2 Floppy.

Since you're using the exact copy of XP that was previously installed, the original Wpa.dbl file will be accepted, and you won't have to go through all the hassle of reactivation.

Workaround to XP installs when the product key is missing

Microsoft's new Windows Product Activation presents support techs with all sorts of new challenges, including the need to have a valid product key to install, or reinstall, Windows XP on workstations. But what do you do if you can't find the CD with the original key that matches the machine you're working on? You can discover the key using ViewKeyXP.

Why you need to know your product key
For years, Microsoft has (quite legitimately) been concerned about piracy issues surrounding its products. In an effort to combat this, it came up with the concept of Windows Product Activation. When you install Windows XP on a workstation, you must enter a 25-digit code from the original Windows XP CD during Setup. Setup takes this information, mixes it with information it derives from the hardware configuration of the workstation, and creates a code that it sends to Microsoft to validate the installation.

This can cause problems for support techs, because each product key can be used only one time. After the key has been activated, it can't be used on another workstation unless you're using a Volume-Licensed version of Windows XP. That means each Windows XP workstation in your organization has a different product key.

If you try to reinstall Windows XP and don't have your original product key or CD, you can't simply borrow one from another workstation. Normally, you'd have to obtain a new product key, meaning a new purchase of Windows XP. Naturally, you don't want to do that because you already have a copy of XP—you're just missing the valid key that goes with your workstation. That's where ViewKeyXP comes in handy.

When bad software goes good
In reality, ViewKeyXP is a hacker tool used to reveal Windows XP product keys. But just because it can be used maliciously doesn't mean that you can't use it for good.

ViewKeyXP performs a reverse hash on the Product ID that you find in the Registered To box when you right-click My Computer and select Properties. Taking this number, ViewKeyXP deciphers and displays your original product key. You can then write this number down and reinstall Windows XP. When prompted, all you have to do is reenter this number and you're ready to go.

Other Windows software uses product keys, but ViewKeyXP won't help you find those keys. It works only with Windows XP. However, it will reveal the product key no matter what version of Windows XP you're running: Home, Professional, or the Corporate Edition.

Obtaining and using ViewKeyXP
You can find ViewKeyXP on the Internet by doing a simple Google Search. Be very careful when you download it. Because it is a hacker tool and not supported by any legitimate organization, don't be surprised if the version you've download has a virus embedded in it. If you choose to download the file, make sure you scan it with an updated virus-scanning program before using it.

In today's world of setup wizards and multi-megabyte downloads, ViewKeyXP is amazingly simple. The file itself, Viewkeyxp.exe, is small—only 32 KB. There is no installation program. Just run the program, either from the command line or by double-clicking it from the folder you downloaded it to.

Another handy tool for finding keys is Magical Jellybean Keyfinder. It works much better as it finds keys for all Microsoft Operating Systems and Office products.

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XP Indexing Service Tuning

I see a common recommendation to disable the Indexing Service to improve system performance of Windows 2000/XP workstations, and I can't say that I'm a big fan of this practice as a general rule unless you know for certain that you have no use for the function. True, the service can sometimes chew up a healthy bit of system resources, but you can control the impact to some degree, while avoiding the total shutdown of the service.

Right-click My Computer and select Manage, which will bring you to the Computer Management console. Drill down to Services and Applications, and then right-click Indexing Service, highlight All Tasks, and click Tune Performance. The default service usage setting is Used Often, which is typically not the case for workstations. My recommendation to select Customize, which will take you to a dialog with two sliders. Shove them both to the left, which will tell the service to delay catalog updates a bit and to utilize fewer system resources when the updates are initiated.

Another important step is to set the appropriate directories that should be indexed. I see little purpose in having the system sift through core operating system files and program binaries because there will rarely be valid documents stored in such places that you'll want to search against. Instead, remove the root directory from the default list and confine the entries to your main document directories and any other folders that you might want to search on a relatively frequent basis. The result of the changes may or may not have any noticeable effect on your particular system, and in my estimation, Windows 2000 is harder on system performance than the indexing processes in Windows XP, so I'll leave any decision to make changes in your capable fingers.

XP Pro and Home Networking Help

Install the NIC card with the proper Clients, Sharing, and Protocols.

Control Panel-> User accounts-> Create Account-> Type in the name of the new account-> choose a limited account-> Click on Create Account Button -> Click on the new account-> Click on create a password-> Type the password in both boxes-> Click on Create Password Button

Do this for each share for a max of ten shares.

Windows Explorer-> Tools-> Folder Options-> View-> Turn off "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)"

I also like to click off "Automatically search for network folders and printers". But that is my preference and doesn't have to be done.

Click on My Network-> Click on "View network connections"-> Click on Local Area Connection-> Properties-> General Tab-> Click on the TCP/IP then on properties-> Click on Use the following IP address

IP address = 192.168.x.y

Where x = any number but it must be the same on all computers

Where y = any number but it must be different on all computers

Subnet Mask = 255.255.255.0

Leave default gateway blank

Leave both DNS blank

Click on My Network-> Click on "View network connections"-> Click on Local Area Connection-> Properties-> Advance Tab-> Make sure the Microsoft Firewall is disable.

XP Pro Sharing

Windows Explorer-> Right click on the drive/folder that you want to share-> Click on Sharing and Security-> Click on "Share this folder" -> Click New Share Button -> Typed in shared name-> Click on Permissions Button-> Remove Everyone Id because it is a security risk-> Click on the Add Button-> Click on the Advance Button-> Click on Find Now Button-> Select the names you want to add-> Click on Ok Button-> Click on Ok Button in the "Select Users or Groups" window-> Decide on what Permissions you want to give then Click on the Apply Button-> Click on Ok Button-> Decide on what the User Limit will be (1-!0). It should be the same number of Permissions or leave it at the default of ten-> Click on Ok Button in the New Shares window-> Click on Apply Button in the Properties window then click on the Ok Button.

Identification Tab

Right click My Computer-> Network Identification Tab-> Properties Button-> Change Workgroup or Comp Id

Each Computer must have its' own unique Computer name

Change your computer id if you want to.

If you are setting up a small network change your workgroup id or you can use the default "Workgroup" This must be the same for all computers to make things easier

]Printing

All NT5 OSes

Control Panel->Printer and Faxes-> Right click on the printer for printer properties -> Sharing Tab->Additional Drivers Button for any OS that will share the printer other than the OS it is installed on.