Enabling and Disabling Task Manager

Due to attack of virus or some malicious attacks, windows task manager may get disabled. Due to which you cant able to run task manager.

Here is a simple solution to your worries. Try the following steps you will definitely get out of that trouble.

Go to Run

Type gpedit.msc.

A new box will appear

Now select  User Configuration >> Administrative templates >> System >> Ctrl + Alt +Delete as shown in the below figure

Then select Remove Task manager which comes in the right hand side menu.

Final step is double click the Remove Task manager option

Now your Task manager is enabled/ repaired and it will work in XP/2000/2003/2000

Rundll32 and Windows Explorer stopped working

Rundll32 and Windows Explorer stopped working is a common problem in both windows Vista and windows xp. Due to virus or malwares rundll32 and windows explorer may get affected. Here is the solution to this.

Well, the first thing you should do is cover your bases. Run your favorite antivirus and antispyware scanners, and perhaps a few online scans for good measure. Trendmicro Housecall, for instance. housecall.trendmicro.com Then run a chkdsk- Start>Computer>Right click your OS drive (most likely C>Properties>Tools tab>Error checking>Check both boxes>Hit "Check now">Reboot) Update your installation of Vista and your drivers(just doing so in the device manager should be adequate)

Boot off of your operating system CD (after ensuring that your computer will look to the CD tray before the hard drive in your SETUP) and Click "repair your computer", select the correct drive, open the Command Prompt, and type in

SFC /Scannow

(optional: Chkdsk C: /r for another chkdsk) (you can do this within windows, but I like to do it off of the CD for peace of mind)

*note* In my experience, when you boot from the CD, you will have a blank vista background for a few minutes before anything happens. Don't panic! 


Run Microsoft Live OneCare SafetyScanner: http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm  


To clean your computer of junk files, malware, and bad registry entries. Run CCleaner: www.ccleaner.com For another level of cleaning junk files and your registry. If your version of windows is 32-bit, you can get dial-a-fix (Dial-a-Fix: http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix )

How to increase traffic to blog

To increase traffic to blog, you must follow steps explained here. It takes longer to take a very good traffic to blog. Follow some tips and you will get increasing good traffic.

1. Post quality content: If the content of the blog is good then it will attract visitors and visit your blog regularly and then you will get good back links.

2. Reply to the comments and mails: Once you are getting traffic to your blog. Visitors may comment on your blog/website. So reply their comments and mail quickly if needed.

3. Submit your blog to blog directories: Submit your blog to some good blog directories of high PR. It will increase link to your blog. So pay some attention to link building.

4. Install Google Analytics to your blog: Install Google Analytics to your blog and get detailed analysis report of your traffic. There are many things in Google Analytics to help you for getting traffic. You may also find there that what keywords are sending visitors to your blog. To install Google Analytics script to your blog you just need a Google account. If you don't have you can create one.

5. Submit your blog to social bookmarking site: Also submit your blog to social bookmarking site such as digg, delicious and stumbleupon etc.

6. Join bloggerforum.com: Join bloggerforum.com to help others and yourself for the blogging related problems and questions. Mention your website/blog name in posts signature there. It will increase links to your website.

7. Join digitalpoint Forum: You may join digital point forum.

8. Join Bloggeries Forum: Join Bloggeries forum.

9. Put a RSS subscribe feed button to your blog: Add a gadget to subscribe your blog via RSS. You can start this service by feedblitz, feedburner etc.

10. Learn Some SEO tips: Learn SEO techniques (Search Engine Optimization Techniques) to get good traffic.

11. Give your blog an Appropriate Title: Appropiate title of a blog also makes some difference to get traffic.

Windows 7 Bible

Windows 7 Bible is a comprehensive reference by a Microsoft expert covers all aspects of the new Windows release. The much-anticipated release of Windows 7 will have numerous changes, and you'll need a complete guide to take full advantage of all it has to offer. Windows 7 Bible covers navigation changes such as pinning to the task bar, full screen preview with invisible windows, Jump Lists, Home Group, Sticky Notes, and many others. It shows you how to use Internet Explorer 8, including features like Web Slices and Network view changes, and guides you through all the new desktop features.

                      
This reference thoroughly examines all three parts of the new platform: Windows 7 Core OS, the Windows Live applications, and Windows Live Services. Windows 7 Bible shows you everything you need to know to make the most of Microsoft's new operating system.
- Covers Windows Live Essentials, including Windows Live Family Safety, Mail, Messenger, Movie Maker, Photo Gallery, Toolbar, Writer, and Microsoft Office Outlook Connector
- Shows how to use Windows Live Services, including Hotmail and Spaces
- Explores new features including Desktop Gadgets Gallery, Desktop Windows manager, updated Fax and DVD Maker, an updated "Devices and Printers" option, and Sticky Notes
- Explains new features in the Calculator, ribbon features in applets such as Paint and WordPad, the new Media Center, and searching updates
- Fully covers the first complete overhaul of applets in a decade

With Windows 7 Bible at your side, you can learn as much or as little as you need to know for the way you use Windows.

Download Windows 7 Bible

Delete Undeletable files in Windows 7

Deleting/renaming/moving some files in Windows 7 can be quite tricky, annoying sometimes even. Therefore, here's a little guide to delete undeletable files in windows 7:

1) Press this combination:
Windows-Key + R

2) In this new window, type:
CMD

3) the old DOS-window will appear.

a) For Files:

--> type this in:

Code:
takeown /f file_name /d y
icacls file_name /grant administrators:F

b) For Directories

--> Type this in:

Code:
takeown /f directory_name /r /d y
icacls directory_name /grant administrators:F /t

As a directory name, you could use, for example, your C:\Windows or C:\Program Files folder, which will automatically solve any annoying with the UAC

How to speed up firefox

How to Speed up Firefox

Firefox is already in good speed. But believe, by doing small tweaks we can speed up firefox further.

                                                                          


That's the beauty of this program being open source.
Here's what you do:
In the URL bar, type “about:config” and press enter. This will bring up the configuration “menu” where you can change the parameters of Firefox.

Note that these are what I’ve found to REALLY speed up my Firefox significantly - and these settings seem to be common among everybody else as well. But these settings are optimized for broadband connections - I mean with as much concurrent requests we’re going to open up with pipelining… lol… you’d better have a big connection.

Double Click on the following settins and put in the numbers below - for the true / false booleans - they’ll change when you double click.

Code:
browser.tabs.showSingleWindowModePrefs – true
network.http.max-connections – 48
network.http.max-connections-per-server – 16
network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-proxy – 8
network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-server – 4
network.http.pipelining – true
network.http.pipelining.maxrequests – 100
network.http.proxy.pipelining – true
network.http.request.timeout – 300

One more thing… Right-click somewhere on that screen and add a NEW -> Integer. Name it “nglayout.initialpaint.delay” and set its value to “0”. This value is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives. Since you’re broadband - it shouldn’t have to wait.

Now you should notice you’re loading pages MUCH faster now!

Tips to increase broadband speed

Different ways to speed up Windows XP

Mozilla Firefox Crash Down in Windows Vista and XP

Mozilla Firefox Crash Down is a common problem in Windows Vista and Windows XP. Normally firefox crash is very tough, reinstalling firefox is heavy for new users. Here is the few tips to make firefox run easier on all platforms.

Recently I heard my friend saying "Firefox Browser carshed down with my XP a while ago..I tried to reinstall it and did not work, then I downloaded the latest version and it's still carshed down!!! My LapTop is clean from any Viruses."
Normally There are three type of Crashes occur in firefox. They are

1. Crash when Starting Firefox
2. Crash when downloading Firefox
3. Crash when Stopping/closing firefox

1. Crash when starting Firefox Older versions of the Google Desktop application can cause Firefox 3 to crash at startup. Uninstall Google Desktop and then download and install the latest version. Crashes at startup can be caused by malicious software on your computer so you should check for malware.

2. Crash when downloading in Firefox Try clearing the download history. In the Firefox menu, go to "Tools -> Downloads" and click "Clean Up" (Firefox 2) or "Clear List" (Firefox 3). In Firefox 2 and below, you may need to exit Firefox completely and delete the downloads.rdf file in the Firefox profile folder (read this if you need help finding it). For more information, see Unable to save or download files.

3. Crash when closing Firefox The Google Web Accelerator application causes Firefox to crash on closing. You can uninstall Google Web Accelerator from the Windows Control Panel list of installed programs ("Add or Remove Programs" list).

Extensions

Problematic extensions may cause crashes. Start in Firefox Safe Mode, which disables all extensions, to help determine if an extension is causing the problem.

Plugins

Plugins are programs that work within Firefox and allow you to experience multimedia content such as video, animation or sound. Plugins can crash within their own code or can cause a crash within Firefox code. Try updating your plugins to the latest versions. You can also temporarily disable your installed plugins to see if the crashes stop, by renaming or removing the associated plugin file or, in Firefox 3, by disabling the plugin via "Tools , Add-ons; Plugins". See Issues related to plugins for details on troubleshooting plugin issues.

Note: In this example, the Flash plugin was found to crash both Firefox and a non-Mozilla browser. The source of the crash was confirmed by the Windows Event Viewer ( see below).

VLC Media Player

If you are using the VLC Media Player plugin, Firefox may crash when viewing WMV media. The VLC Media Player browser plugin conflicts with the Windows Media Player plugin, so you need to disable the plugin or remove the VLC plugin file "npvlc.dll" from the Firefox installation directory plugins folder, for embedded WMV files to play properly.

Yahoo! Application State

If you have installed Yahoo! Messenger on your system, you may experience crashes when using Yahoo! Mail. This is caused by the Yahoo! Application State plugin (bug 322363, bug 326344). Note: The Yahoo! Application State plugin (v.1.0.0.5 and older) is on the Mozilla Add-ons Blocklist and should be automatically disabled in Firefox 3.

To see if this plugin is the cause of your problems, type about:plugins in the Location Bar and press Enter. If you find "Yahoo! Application State" ("npYState.dll") in the installed plugins list, exit Firefox, open the C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\shared folder and rename the file "npYState.dll" to "XnpYState.dll" to disable the plugin. In Firefox 3, you can also disable the plugin, if found, via "Tools -> Add-ons -> Plugins". Open Firefox and test Yahoo! Mail.

Hulu Desktop - Mac OS X

Hulu Desktop includes a web plugin that can cause Firefox to crash on Mac OS X. Remove (or disable) the huludesktop.webplugin or download and install the latest version.

Note: The web plugin is listed as "Hulu Desktop Support Plugin blah -de- blah" in the Firefox "Tools -> Add-ons -> Plugins" list.

Plugins installed by malware - Windows

If you have malware installed on your system, it can include a plugin file that causes Firefox to crash. See Issues related to plugins - Problematic plugins for more information on detecting and disabling installed plugins. (Make sure you also do a check for malware.)

"NPFFAddOn.dll" can cause Firefox crashes at startup.

Other installed software

Other installed software that is running on your computer may be causing Firefox to crash.

Spector Pro for Windows

Spector Pro for Windows computer monitoring software can cause Firefox 3 to crash at startup or when opening a new tab. If you use this product, try updating to the latest version or contact SpectorSoft Support.

ZoneAlarm ForceField

ZoneAlarm ForceField may cause Firefox to crash on certain websites. Try clearing the ForceField virtual cache and reboot the computer to see if that resolves the issue.

Trusteer Rapport

Trusteer Rapport (an application promoted by some banks for malware protection) may cause Firefox to crash. If you use this software, try disabling it. If that stops the crashes, uninstall the program if you don't need it or contact Trusteer Support.

Thanks to the source : http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_crashes

Install and use XP mode in Windows 7

Restoring Windows Media Player in Vista

Restoring Windows media player ( WMP ) in vista can be done in several ways. I have discussed two methods below to solve your problem techniocally.

1. Reinstallation of Vista
2. Restoration of Windows Media player ( WMP )

1. I would not recommend to use this way unless you are affected by some virus. 

        For Reinstallation of Vista                             

•     Reboot your machine from the Vista DVD and
•     Go through the installation process again

2. This is the most widely used way and I recommend you to try

         1.  Goto regedit 

                 (Use the Following steps to go to regedit

                           1. go to start in vista

                           2. press run

                           3. type regedit)

         2. Next goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE which is present in the left hand side

  

         3. Next click SOFTWARE

         4. Then click Microsoft

         5. Finally you will see there a folder named "Mediaplayer"

   Delete "Mediaplayer" folder and restart/reboot your vista.

            

   Now Vista will detect the absence of WMP and ask you to reinstall it.

If you want any other method or if you don't understand the steps comment me you will get reply within 24 hours.

Install and use XP mode in Windows 7

    

Install and use XP mode in Windows7

Sometimes all of the compatibility settings in Windows 7 are not enough to make legacy applications run. XP Mode is a free download component for Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise customers that allows you to run legacy apps inside a Windows XP virtual machine running in the background. The end user does not have load and work inside the virtual machines as required in the past. With XP mode they start the application from a shortcut in the Start Menu. It appears like any other window on your desktop and taskbar. The only way you can tell it is running in the XP Virtual Machine in the background is by the XP visual style that surrounds the window.

The only hardware requirement for using XP mode is a computer with a processor that supports hardware-assisted virtualization such as AMD-V, Intel-VT or VIA VT. Microsoft has a helpful tool that will detect if your hardware is compatible called the HAV Detection Tool. On some computers the feature may be turned off in the BIOS, click here for instructions on how to turn it on.

Getting XP mode up and running requires four main steps:

1. Download and install the XP Mode Components.
2. Download and install Windows Virtual PC.
3. Setup the XP Virtual Machine.
4. Configure your apps in the XP Virtual Machine.

First, visit the XP Mode Web page, select the edition and language of Windows 7 you have and click theWindows XP Mode button to download that component. After the 470 MB XP Mode component is downloaded, install.

Then, return to the XP Mode Web page and click the Windows Virtual PC button and download & install that component. After installing the Virtual PC component you will need to reboot.

After the reboot, click on the Start Menu and navigate through All Programs, Windows Virtual PC and select Windows XP Mode to begin configuring XP Mode.

Click I accept the license terms and click Next.

Next, you will need to specify the password for the local account XPMuser that runs in the XP virtual machine. Type in a password in both boxes and click Next.

XP Mode runs a fully functional Windows XP virtual machine in the background so it must be patched every month as new security updates are released to keep applications running in the VM protected. The best way to accomplish this is by turning on Automatic Updates. Check Help protect my computer by turning on Automatic Updates now and click Next.

Click Start Setup on the following screen.

Setup will now run and configure the Windows XP virtual machine. This will take a few minutes.

When setup is completed the Windows XP virtual machine will be displayed.

At this point install any applications in the XP Virtual Machine like you normally install applications. For a test I installed Office 95.

After setup was completed you should see the programs icons in the Windows 7 Start Menu under All Programs, Windows Virtual PC and finally Windows XP Mode applications.

Just click on one of the shortcuts and the application will load in just like a locally installed app.

If you ever want to service or install more application in the XP Virtual Machine just click on the Start Menu and navigate through All Programs, Windows Virtual PC and select Windows XP Mode. That will start the XP virtual machine in desktop mode.

The Value of Separate User Accounts

The social networking site Facebook has recently been hit with a pretty vicious virus, called “Koobface. It gets on your computer when you click on a link to a video that has supposedly been recommended by one of your friends. This link is to an explanation of how it operates: Koobface

I recently was asked to help a friend whose computer suddenly started behaving strangely, and the bottom line to the story is that her computer had been infected with Koobface. She was able to remove it by running the very good, and free, program Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware.

So now the question becomes, how did it get there in the first place – as I am sure has happened to many of us, she had recently been visited by grandkids, and they had been playing on the computer. Folks, that’ll do it to you almost every time. Question number two then becomes, what’s the solution to not repeating this again?

The answer is to set up separate user accounts on the computer, with only one account having Administrator privileges, and all others having only limited accounts. A limited account is not able to download and add unwanted things to the computer. Only the administrator can download and install things. I’d suggest anyone who has a computer with multiple users set up separate accounts for each user or group of users depending on the needs of the individuals.

Windows Defender Update Error

Windows Defender Update Error normally has error code 8020000D. To fix this problem follow the below steps. 

Some other program like chkdsk is currently running which locked the disk and so BITS is not able to write to the disk.

If the issue is not being caused by a scheduled check disk, then "something" else is locking the disk or preventing BITS from writing to the download location. That "something" could be security software [antivirus/3rd party firewall/etc], malware, or the Hard Drive may have issues.

If this is Windows Vista, open the Services console.

• *Right* click Computer either on the Desktop or Start Menu and 
• choose 'Manage'; 
• allow the User Prompt; 
• open Services and Applications; 
• then Services. 
• click on Background Intelligent Transfer Service and see if you are able to Start it. 
• Then try to update Defender again.

Alternatively, you can manually download the latest Defender definition from here, save it, and then manually install it:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Definitions/ADL.aspx

Windows Vista Error Code 737D

Windows Vista Error Code 737D

Eventhough we are using genuine Windows Vista version sometimes it will give error code 737D on updating Vista. If you are using Genuine Windows Vista then you can report MS for "no charge" support in getting update installed

How to obtain help and support for this security update
For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in the United States and Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft subsidiary. For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary for support issues with security updates, visit the Microsoft International Support Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx?rdpath=4

North American customers can also obtain instant access to unlimited no-charge e-mail support or to unlimited individual chat support by visiting the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&prid=7552

If you phone in be sure to specify that there is an installation issue with the *Security* update, KB970892. Do *not* even mention any other issues or whomever answers your call may try to charge you or, even worse, tell you to contact the laptop's manufacturer. If they do try to do that, ask to speak to the Supervisor or a higher level of Support.

Auto end Tasks for Proper Shutdown

World Wide Web

World Wide Web

World wide web is considered as the first component of internet


The World Wide Web (abbreviated as the Web or WWW) is a system of Internet servers that supports hypertext to access several Internet protocols on a single interface. Almost every protocol type available on the Internet is accessible on the Web. This includes e-mail, FTP, Telnet, and Usenet News. In addition to these, the World Wide Web has its own protocol: HyperText Transfer Protocol, or HTTP. These protocols will be explained later in this document.


The World Wide Web provides a single interface for accessing all these protocols. This creates a convenient and user-friendly environment. It is no longer necessary to be conversant in these protocols within separate, command-level environments. The Web gathers together these protocols into a single system. Because of this feature, and because of the Web's ability to work with multimedia and advanced programming languages, the Web is the fastest-growing component of the Internet.


The operation of the Web relies primarily on hypertext as its means of information retrieval. HyperText is a document containing words that connect to other documents. These words are called links and are selectable by the user. A single hypertext document can contain links to many documents. In the context of the Web, words or graphics may serve as links to other documents, images, video, and sound. Links may or may not follow a logical path, as each connection is programmed by the creator of the source document. Overall, the Web contains a complex virtual web of connections among a vast number of documents, graphics, videos, and sounds.


Producing hypertext for the Web is accomplished by creating documents with a language called HyperText Markup Language, or HTML. With HTML, tags are placed within the text to accomplish document formatting, visual features such as font size, italics and bold, and the creation of hypertext links. Graphics and multimedia may also be incorporated into an HTML document. HTML is an evolving language, with new tags being added as each upgrade of the language is developed and released. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), led by Web founder Tim Berners-Lee, coordinates the efforts of standardizing HTML. The W3C now calls the language XHTML and considers it to be an application of the XML language standard.


The World Wide Web consists of files, called pages or home pages, containing links to documents and resources throughout the Internet.


The Web provides a vast array of experiences including multimedia presentations, real-time collaboration, interactive pages, radio and television broadcasts, and the automatic "push" of information to a client computer. Programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, Visual Basic, Cold Fusion and XML are extending the capabilities of the Web. A growing amount of information on the Web is served dynamically from content stored in databases. The Web is therefore not a fixed entity, but one that is in a constant state of development and flux.

COMPONENTS OF THE INTERNET

COMPONENTS OF THE INTERNET

1. WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW)

2. TELNET

3. FTP

4. E-MAIL DISCUSSION GROUPS

5. USENET NEWS

6. FAQ, RFC, FYI

7. CHAT & INSTANT MESSENGING

8. MUD/MUSH/MOO/MUCK/DUM/MUSE

Auto End Tasks for proper Shutdown

Auto End Tasks to Enable a Proper Shutdown

This reg file automatically ends tasks and timeouts that prevent programs from shutting down problem and clears the Paging File on Exit.

1. Copy the following (everything in the box) into notepad.


QUOTE
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"ClearPageFileAtShutdown"=dword:00000001


[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="1000"


2. Save the file as shutdown.reg
3. Double click the file to import into your registry.

NOTE: If your anti-virus software warns you of a "malicious" script, this is normal if you have "Script Safe" or similar technology enabled.

Creating a short cut for shut down

What is Internet

The Internet is a computer network made up of thousands of networks worldwide. No one knows exactly how many computers are connected to the Internet. It is certain, however, that these number in the millions.

No one is in charge of the Internet. There are organizations which develop technical aspects of this network and set standards for creating applications on it, but no governing body is in control. The Internet backbone, through which Internet traffic flows, is owned by private companies.

All computers on the Internet communicate with one another using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol suite, abbreviated to TCP/IP. Computers on the Internet use a client/server architecture. This means that the remote server machine provides files and services to the user's local client machine. Software can be installed on a client computer to take advantage of the latest access technology.

Components of Internet

Do you want to know more about pc crash or  problems in laptop click here

Shotcuts to One Click Shutdown and Reboot

Shotcuts to One Click Shutdown and Reboot

First, create a shortcut on your desktop by right-clicking on the desktop, choosing New, and then choosing Shortcut. The Create Shortcut Wizard appears. In the box asking for the location of the shortcut, type shutdown. After you create the shortcut, double-clicking on it will shut down your PC.


But you can do much more with a shutdown shortcut than merely shut down your PC. You can add any combination of several switches to do extra duty, like this:


shutdown -r -t 01 -c "Rebooting your PC"


Double-clicking on that shortcut will reboot your PC after a one-second delay and display the message "Rebooting your PC." The shutdown command includes a variety of switches you can use to customize it. Table 1-3 lists all of them and describes their use.


I use this technique to create two shutdown shortcuts on my desktop—one for turning off my PC, and one for rebooting. Here are the ones I use:


shutdown -s -t 03 -c "Bye Bye m8!"
shutdown -r -t 03 -c "Ill be back m8 ;)!"


Switch
What it does


-s
Shuts down the PC.


-l
Logs off the current user.


-t nn
Indicates the duration of delay, in seconds, before performing the action.


-c "messagetext"
Displays a message in the System Shutdown window. A maximum of 127 characters can be used. The message must be enclosed in quotation marks.


-f
Forces any running applications to shut down.


-r
Reboots the PC.

Slipstreaming Windows XP or Creating Bootable Windows XP

Slipstreaming Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Create Bootable CD

            

Slipstreaming a Service Pack, is the process to integrate the Service Pack into the installation so that with every new installation the Operating System and Service Pack are installed at the same time.

Slipstreaming is usually done on network shares on corporate systems. But with the advent of CD burners, it does actually make some sense for the home user or small business user to do the same.

Microsoft added the ability to Slipstream a Service Pack to Windows 2000 and Windows XP . It not only has the advantage that when you (re)install your OS, you don't have to apply the Service Pack later, also if you update any Windows component later, you'll be sure that you get the correct installation files if Windows needs any.


Slipstream Windows XP Service Pack 2:
CODE
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/4/f/54f8bcf8-bb4d-4613-8ee7-db69d01735ed/xpsp1a_en_x86.exe


Download the (full) "Network Install" of the Service Pack (English version [125 MB]), and save it to a directory (folder) on your hard drive (in my case D:\XP-SP2). Other languages can be downloaded from the Windows XP Web site.

Microsoft recently released Windows XP SP2 . The only difference is that this Service Pack does no longer include Microsoft's dated Java version. If you have already installed Windows XP SP2, there is no reason to install SP 2 , but the "older" SP2 (with MS Java) is no longer available for download.

Next copy your Windows XP CD to your hard drive. Just create a folder (I used \XP-CD), and copy all the contents of your Windows XP CD in that folder.

Now create a folder to hold the Service Pack 2(SP2) software files you are about to extract. I named it \XP-SP1. Next, open a Command Prompt (Start > Run > cmd), and go to the folder where you downloaded SP2 (cd \foldername). Type the command: servicepack filename -x. A small window will appear, and you need to point it to the folder where you want to extract the SP2 files. Click Ok to start extracting the SP2 files.

                                                        

Once the SP1a files are extracted, change to the update folder of the SP2 files (cd update), and type the following command: update /s:path to WinXP CD files. In my example the command is update /s:D:\XP-CD).

Windows XP Update will do its thing:

When ready, you should get a confirmation. Windows XP Service Pack 1a has now been Slipstreamed into your original Windows XP files.

It is also possible to add the Windows XP Rollup 1 Update. For instructions, please read Adding Windows XP Rollup 1 Hotfix.


Creating a Bootable CD
For this part I used ISO Buster
CODE
http://www.smart-projects.net/isobuster/

and Nero Burning.

Start to extract the boot loader from the original Windows XP CD. Using ISO Buster, select the "folder" Bootable CD, and right-click Microsoft Corporation.img. From the menu choose Extract Microsoft Corporation.img, and extract it to the folder on your hard drive where you have your Windows XP files (D:\XP-CD in my case).

Next, start Nero Burning ROM, and choose CD-ROM (Boot) in the New Compilation window. On the Boot tab, select Image file under Source of boot image data, and browse to the location of the Microsoft Corporation.img file. Also enable Expert Settings, choosing No Emulation, and changing the Number of loaded sectors to 4 (otherwise it won't boot!)


If you have an older version of Nero you won't have the option Do Not Add ";1" ISO file version extention under Relax ISO Restrictions. You won't be able to boot your new CD, so update Nero!
You can configure the Label tab to your liking, I would however recommend that you keep the Volume Label the same as on your original Windows XP CD.

Next press New, and drag & drop the files and folders from your Windows XP hard drive location into Nero.

Next, burn your new CD.

You now have a Bootable, Slipstreamed Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD!

To check whether the slipstream completed successfully you can see whether or not one particular file was copied across. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the C:\XPCD folder and check if there is a file called "win51ip.SP2" (without the quotes). If it's there, the slipstream (integration) was successful. If not then try the steps again.

                

Keyboard Shortcuts

Without using mouse you can operate using your key board with extreme speed.
Here are some of the short cut keys which helps to increase your speed while using computer.

Windows key + R = Run menu

This is usually followed by:
cmd = Command Prompt
iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer
compmgmt.msc = Computer Management
dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management
dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management
services.msc = Services
eventvwr = Event Viewer
dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers
dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services
Windows key + E = Explorer

ALT + Tab = Switch between windows

ALT, Space, X = Maximize window

CTRL + Shift + Esc = Task Manager

Windows key + Break = System properties

Windows key + F = Search

Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows

CTRL + C = copy

CTRL + X = cut

CTRL + V = paste

Also don't forget about the "Right-click" key next to the right Windows key on your keyboard. Using the arrows and that key can get just about anything done once you've opened up any program.


Keyboard Shortcuts

[Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications

[Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter

[Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu

[Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)

[Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window

[Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document

Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word

Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one paragraph

[F1] Open Help for active application

Windows+M Minimize all open windows

Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows

Windows+F1 Open Windows Help

Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons

Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box



Accessability shortcuts

Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch FilterKeys on and off.

Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High Contrast on and off.

Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on and off.

SHIFT....... five times Switch StickyKeys on and off.

NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off.

Explorer shortcuts

END....... Display the bottom of the active window.

HOME....... Display the top of the active window.

NUM LOCK+ASTERISK....... on numeric keypad (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder.

NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.

NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (-) Collapse the selected folder.

LEFT ARROW...... Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.

RIGHT ARROW....... Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.




Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run

devmgmt.msc = Device Manager
msinfo32 = System Information
cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup
ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)
mmc = Microsoft Management Console
excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)
msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)
powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)
winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)
notepad = Notepad
wordpad = WordPad
calc = Calculator
msmsgs = Windows Messenger
mspaint = Microsoft Paint
wmplayer = Windows Media Player
rstrui = System Restore
netscp6 = Netscape 6.x
netscp = Netscape 7.x
netscape = Netscape 4.x
waol = America Online
control = Opens the Control Panel
control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog


Internet browser shortcuts

type in u're adress "google", then press [CTRL] and [Enter]
add www. and .com to word and go to it

Microsoft word Key board Shortcut keys

Different ways to speed up Window XP continued..

                                                    

13.) Turn off any and all unnecessary animations, and disable active desktop. In fact, for optimal performance, turn off all animations. Windows XP offers many different settings in this area. Here's how to do it: First click on the System icon in the Control Panel. Next, click on the Advanced tab. Select the Settings button located under Performance. Feel free to play around with the options offered here, as nothing you can change will alter the reliability of the computer -- only its responsiveness.

14.) If your customer is an advanced user who is comfortable editing their registry, try some of the performance registry tweaks offered at Tweak XP.

15.) Visit Microsoft's Windows update site regularly, and download all updates labeled Critical. Download any optional updates at your discretion.

16.) Update the customer's anti-virus software on a weekly, even daily, basis. Make sure they have only one anti-virus software package installed. Mixing anti-virus software is a sure way to spell disaster for performance and reliability.

17.) Make sure the customer has fewer than 500 type fonts installed on their computer. The more fonts they have, the slower the system will become. While Windows XP handles fonts much more efficiently than did the previous versions of Windows, too many fonts -- that is, anything over 500 -- will noticeably tax the system.

18.) Do not partition the hard drive. Windows XP's NTFS file system runs more efficiently on one large partition. The data is no safer on a separate partition, and a reformat is never necessary to reinstall an operating system. The same excuses people offer for using partitions apply to using a folder instead. For example, instead of putting all your data on the D: drive, put it in a folder called "D drive." You'll achieve the same organizational benefits that a separate partition offers, but without the degradation in system performance. Also, your free space won't be limited by the size of the partition; instead, it will be limited by the size of the entire hard drive. This means you won't need to resize any partitions, ever. That task can be time-consuming and also can result in lost data.

19.) Check the system's RAM to ensure it is operating properly. I recommend using a free program called MemTest86. The download will make a bootable CD or diskette (your choice), which will run 10 extensive tests on the PC's memory automatically after you boot to the disk you created. Allow all tests to run until at least three passes of the 10 tests are completed. If the program encounters any errors, turn off and unplug the computer, remove a stick of memory (assuming you have more than one), and run the test again. Remember, bad memory cannot be repaired, but only replaced.

20.) If the PC has a CD or DVD recorder, check the drive manufacturer's Web site for updated firmware. In some cases you'll be able to upgrade the recorder to a faster speed. Best of all, it's free.

21.) Disable unnecessary services. Windows XP loads a lot of services that your customer most likely does not need. To determine which services you can disable for your client, visit the Black Viper site for Windows XP configurations.

22.) If you're sick of a single Windows Explorer window crashing and then taking the rest of your OS down with it, then follow this tip: open My Computer, click on Tools, then Folder Options. Now click on the View tab. Scroll down to "Launch folder windows in a separate process," and enable this option. You'll have to reboot your machine for this option to take effect.

23.) At least once a year, open the computer's cases and blow out all the dust and debris. While you're in there, check that all the fans are turning properly. Also inspect the motherboard capacitors for bulging or leaks. For more information on this leaking-capacitor phenomena, you can read numerous articles on my site.


Following any of these suggestions should result in noticeable improvements to the performance and reliability of your customers' computers. If you still want to defrag a disk, remember that the main benefit will be to make your data more retrievable in the event of a crashed drive.

Different ways to speed up Window XP

Defragging the disk won't do much to improve Windows XP performance, here are 23 suggestions that will. Each can enhance the performance and reliability of your customers' PCs. Best of all, most of them will cost you nothing.

                                            

1.) To decrease a system's boot time and increase system performance, use the money you save by not buying defragmentation software -- the built-in Windows defragmenter works just fine -- and instead equip the computer with an Ultra-133 or Serial ATA hard drive with 8-MB cache buffer.

2.) If a PC has less than 512 MB of RAM, add more memory. This is a relatively inexpensive and easy upgrade that can dramatically improve system performance.

3.) Ensure that Windows XP is utilizing the NTFS file system. If you're not sure, here's how to check: First, double-click the My Computer icon, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Next, examine the File System type; if it says FAT32, then back-up any important data. Next, click Start, click Run, type CMD, and then click OK. At the prompt, type CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter key. This process may take a while; it's important that the computer be uninterrupted and virus-free. The file system used by the bootable drive will be either FAT32 or NTFS. I highly recommend NTFS for its superior security, reliability, and efficiency with larger disk drives.

4.) Disable file indexing. The indexing service extracts information from documents and other files on the hard drive and creates a "searchable keyword index." As you can imagine, this process can be quite taxing on any system.

The idea is that the user can search for a word, phrase, or property inside a document, should they have hundreds or thousands of documents and not know the file name of the document they want. Windows XP's built-in search functionality can still perform these kinds of searches without the Indexing service. It just takes longer. The OS has to open each file at the time of the request to help find what the user is looking for.

Most people never need this feature of search. Those who do are typically in a large corporate environment where thousands of documents are located on at least one server. But if you're a typical system builder, most of your clients are small and medium businesses. And if your clients have no need for this search feature, I recommend disabling it.

Here's how: First, double-click the My Computer icon. Next, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching." Next, apply changes to "C: subfolders and files," and click OK. If a warning or error message appears (such as "Access is denied"), click the Ignore All button.

5.) Update the PC's video and motherboard chipset drivers. Also, update and configure the BIOS. For more information on how to configure your BIOS properly, see this article on my site.

6.) Empty the Windows Prefetch folder every three months or so. Windows XP can "prefetch" portions of data and applications that are used frequently. This makes processes appear to load faster when called upon by the user. That's fine. But over time, the prefetch folder may become overloaded with references to files and applications no longer in use. When that happens, Windows XP is wasting time, and slowing system performance, by pre-loading them. Nothing critical is in this folder, and the entire contents are safe to delete.

7.) Once a month, run a disk cleanup. Here's how: Double-click the My Computer icon. Then right-click on the C: drive and select Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button -- it's just to the right of the Capacity pie graph -- and delete all temporary files.

8.) In your Device Manager, double-click on the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers device, and ensure that DMA is enabled for each drive you have connected to the Primary and Secondary controller. Do this by double-clicking on Primary IDE Channel. Then click the Advanced Settings tab. Ensure the Transfer Mode is set to "DMA if available" for both Device 0 and Device 1. Then repeat this process with the Secondary IDE Channel.

9.) Upgrade the cabling. As hard-drive technology improves, the cabling requirements to achieve these performance boosts have become more stringent. Be sure to use 80-wire Ultra-133 cables on all of your IDE devices with the connectors properly assigned to the matching Master/Slave/Motherboard sockets. A single device must be at the end of the cable; connecting a single drive to the middle connector on a ribbon cable will cause signaling problems. With Ultra DMA hard drives, these signaling problems will prevent the drive from performing at its maximum potential. Also, because these cables inherently support "cable select," the location of each drive on the cable is important. For these reasons, the cable is designed so drive positioning is explicitly clear.

10.) Remove all spyware from the computer. Use free programs such as AdAware by Lavasoft or SpyBot Search & Destroy. Once these programs are installed, be sure to check for and download any updates before starting your search. Anything either program finds can be safely removed. Any free software that requires spyware to run will no longer function once the spyware portion has been removed; if your customer really wants the program even though it contains spyware, simply reinstall it. For more information on removing Spyware visit this Web Pro News page.

11.) Remove any unnecessary programs and/or items from Windows Startup routine using the MSCONFIG utility. Here's how: First, click Start, click Run, type MSCONFIG, and click OK. Click the StartUp tab, then uncheck any items you don't want to start when Windows starts. Unsure what some items are? Visit the WinTasks Process Library. It contains known system processes, applications, as well as spyware references and explanations. Or quickly identify them by searching for the filenames using Google or another Web search engine.

12.) Remove any unnecessary or unused programs from the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel.
                                                                                                                                                                          Next   >>