Software & internet

If you are running Windows XP Professional on your computer you can install Microsoft’s web server, Internet Information Server 5.1 (IIS) for free from the Windows XP Pro installation CD and configure it to run on your system by following the instructions below:

1. Place the Windows XP Professional CD-Rom into your CD-Rom Drive.
2. Open ‘Add/Remove Windows Components’ found in ‘Add/Remove Programs’ in the ‘Control Panel’.
3. Place a tick in the check box for ‘Internet Information Services (IIS)’ leaving all the default installation settings intact.
4. Once IIS is installed on your machine you can view your home page in a web browser by typing ‘http://localhost’ (you can substitute ‘localhost’ for the name of your computer) into the address bar of your web browser. If you have not placed your web site into the default directory you should now be looking at the IIS documentation.
5. If you are not sure of the name of your computer right-click on the ‘My Computer’ icon on your desktop, select ‘Properties’ from the shortcut menu, and click on the ‘Computer Name’ tab.
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Refer to this site for SP2 FAQs.

Questions like:
Should I slipstream SP1 into Windows XP before SP2? Nope!

Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the size of this Windows XP SP2?
   The size of Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) is about 270MB (back to top)
2. What is the minimum requirement for the system to run Windows XP SP2?
   You need a PC running Microsoft Windows XP with at least 233-MHz processor, 64 MB of RAM and 1.6GB of available hard-disk space during installation. (back to top)
3. Can I upgrade my system with Windows XP SP2?
   If you are using any application/software provided by your School, do a quick check with your School IT Support whether that application/software can run on Win XP SP2. Thereafter, proceed to the next question below.
   Note: Before installing Windows XP SP2, it is strongly recommended to back up or make a copy of your data files. (back to top)
4. Do I have to install an earlier Service Pack 1 before installing Windows XP SP2?
   No.
5. Is there any patch that is required to install prior to SP2 installation?
   Microsoft has issue a critical patch (KB885523) that will resolve compatibility issue with a non-Microsoft software application installed on your computer. Download and install this patch prior the installation of SP2.
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Windows Explorer caches DLLs (Dynamic-Link Libraries) in memory for a period of time after the application an using them has been closed. Which in some cases can be an waste of memory. To stop WinXP from always caching these DLL files, create the new registry key below.

Open up the Registry and navigate to :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Explorer

Create a new sub-key named ‘AlwaysUnloadDLL’ and set the default value to equal ‘1′ to disable Windows caching the DLL in memory.
Restart Windows for the change to take effect

If you’re one of the many people that NEVER use the “links” folder in your favorites and can’t keep windows for re-creating it. Here’s how:

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]

Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Internet Explorer\ Toolbar

Modify/Create the Value Data Type(s) and Value Name(s) as detailed below.

Data Type: REG_SZ [String Value] // Value Name:

LinksFolderName

Value Data: [Set the String Value to a blank string]

Open Internet Explorer and manually delete the Links folder from Favorites Menu. The Links folder will not be recreated. Exit Registry and Reboot.

Don’t want your XP computer to show up in the network browse list (Network Neighborhood/My Network Places) to other users on your network? One way to accomplish that is to disable file sharing. To do this, click Start, right click My Network Places and select Properties. Right click your local area connection and click Properties. Uncheck the box that says File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. Click OK.

But what if you want to be able to share folders with some users; you just don’t want everyone on the network to see your computer’s shares? There’s a way:

1. Click Start and select Run.
2. In the Run box, type net config server /hidden:yes
3. Click OK.

Now others who know the UNC path (\\computer name\share name) can connect to your computer’s shares from the Run box, but it won’t show up in the network browse list.

Do you experience this kind of problem whenever you attemp to install an application in windows box (2k, xp)?

“The Windows Installer service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance.”

The ms website knowledge article 324516 gives 2 methods as a way of fixing this problem, but you might be very lucky if any of the 2 fixes the problem, alot of guys end up formating their systems and doing fresh windows installations or try wired ways of fixing it.

Well, the solution is very easy:

1. right click your root windows installation drive i.e drive where you installed window
2. click properties at the bottom
3. select security tab
4. click Add and scroll down to SYSTEM account click add and click OK.
5. allow Full control permission and click Apply and then Ok.

This should solve your problem with windows installer.

This tutorial has been made so people that are having problems with corrupted files, can learn how to fix them easy.

Required

• Windows XP operating system
• Windows XP cd

Right to the tutorial

• Place the xp cd in your cd/dvd drive
• Go to start
• run
• type in ’sfc /scannow’ (without the ‘)

Now it should all load, and fix all your corrupted file on windows XP

We all know that WinXP likes to keep itself held together, and how it doesnt like you uninstalling certain components. Well The Picture and Fax Viewer, is one of these programs which can cause problems if removed incorrectly. It can be disabled safely as follows:

• Start -> Run -> type regedit and click [OK]
• Navigate to :
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/ SystemFileAssociations/ image/ ShellEx/ ContextMenuHandlers
• Delete the Folder ShellImagePreview under ContextMenuHandlers

Note: If you want to restore the Picture and Fax Viewer :

• Create the ShellImagePreview folder and create the String Value (Default)
• Assign it the value {e84fda7c-1d6a-45f6-b725-cb260c236066}

NOTE: This tweak doesnt uninstall the program. It removes the association and therefore it cannot be run.

First the safety rules

The inside of a computer is a bad place full of electricity and sharp edges. On the electricity side always when working on you computer make sure that it’s still plugged in to the power socket and the power is turned off, this is to ensure that any static From you is discharged through the earth. The inside of most computer cases are unfinished metal and has very sharp edges so be careful.

The first signs of a battery failing are :
1) your clock starts running slowly
2) when you boot (start) your computer it has a problem finding your hardware (no hard drive, no cd rom)

To change the battery you need the following tools
1) a X-point screwdriver
2) an anti-static strap(optional)
3) a new battery (seems logical)

Then unplug all the cables from the back of the computer as you remove them make a note where they came from. (So when you finished you can put them back)
Move the computer somewhere where you can work on it with ease.
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You can add an Internet URL address bar to your Windows XP taskbar. Doing so will let you type in URLs and launch Web pages without first launching a browser. It will also let you launch some native Windows XP applications in much the same way as you would via the Run menu (so you could type in calc to launch the calculator or mspaint to launch Microsoft Paint. Here’s how you add the address bar:

1. Right-click on the taskbar, select Toolbars, and then click Address.
2. The word Address will appear on your taskbar.
3. Double click it to access it.
4. If that doesn’t work, your taskbar is locked. You can unlock it by right-clicking on the taskbar again and uncheck Lock the Taskbar.

NOTE: You may also need to grab the vertical dotted lines beside the word Address and drag it to the left to make the Address window appear.