Useful Windows Information

Some of the regular posters to this forum have decided to provide useful Windows information, in the hope that it may answer some of the more common questions so that people can find their answers without having to create new threads.

This thread is strictly for posting useful information to other people. While it will remain open for the time being, I'd like it if people could limit the comments they make. If you'd like to thank someone for the information they've provided, use the built-in reputation system (click the scales in the top-right hand corner of the post) as this will keep the thread clear for everyone to read, and it'll also benefit the person who posted the information.

If you're not sure whether or not you've got valuable information to post in this thread, PM me first before you post and I'll check it over for you. I'll be checking every post in this forum, so any rubbish will just be deleted.

Contents of this thread

• While surfing the Internet... (Dngrsone) (link)
  Practicing safe surfing habits will significantly reduce your chances of being infected with malware.
  
  
• Further tips relating to web surfing (nilpo) (link)
  
  
• Backing Up and Restoring the Registry (aitken325i) (link)
  
  
• When control panel will not start (0000) (link)
  
  
• Using a Windows 98 boot disk to format and install a fresh copy of Windows XP (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Doing a completely fresh install of XP using the XP install disk (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Re-install Windows XP without having to re-activate (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Speeding up Windows XP Pro Boot up by a small bit (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Some useful commands available in Windows XP (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Modify permissions for registry keys in Windows XP (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Keeping a tab on changes to the registry (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Lock your desktop in windows XP (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• How to do a complete repair installation with Windows XP (without recovery console) (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Managing Windows Services (eia_hunter) (link)
  
  
• Task manager "mini" mode (0000) (link)
  
  
• Hardware abstraction layer correction (0000) (link)
  
  
• Windows Won't Boot. Now What? (eia_hunter) (link)
  
  
• Using System Restore, when even safe mode boot fails, in Win XP (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• Reducing PC Slow Down after running a lot of programs (oneMSBi) (link)
  
  
• How to edit or fiddle with "boot.ini" quite safely for fun! (megumi amatuka) (link)
  
  
• How to have a logon like a network user on a home pc (Windows Xp) (aitken325i) (link)
  
  
• Locking XP, CMD History, XP install to multiple machines, Make windows login to a domain as a domain user automagicly at bootup, Prevent user bypass of an auto login name, Adding registry values to computers in login scipts. (juniperr) (link)
  
  
• CD-ROM Access is missing. Error Code 31, Code 32, Code 19, Code 39, or Code 41 (0000) (link)
  
  
• How to reinstall IE and its Initialization (megumi matuka) (link)
  
  
• How to change the background if you are not given a direct access to the registry editor nor the "desktop>right click>etc..." (Dictionary) (link)
  
  
• Ten Commandments for Your Computer Sanity (nilpo) (link)
  
  
• Disable AU Restart Reminder (nilpo) (link)
  
  
• Virus Removal Tips (mod note: Excellent ) (nilpo) (link)
  
  
• Avoiding Repair Installs When Changing Motherboards A Discussion with good information (by Nilpo, Juniperr, Megumi Amatuka) (link)
  
  
• Getting access to external drives when auto-detect is disabled (Dictionary) (link)
  
  
• Some Windows Key Shortcut Keys (aitken325i) (link)
  
  
• Alternative way to open Display Properties directly (nilpo) (link)
  
  
• Unhide hidden applications from Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel (nilpo) (link)
  
  
• Remote Connection to remote computer - How to copy a file over from your local machine (juniperr) (link)
  
  
• Disable Unnecessary Windows services (t3j45) (link)
  
  
• Various Windows tips (KyrinComaBlack) (link)
  
  
• How to Resolve the "Unknown Device" (eia_hunter) (link)
  
  
• Diagnosing missing security updates/Group Policy (guest2006) (link)
  
  
• Remotely accessing a computer through Safe Mode with Networking (hiker) (link)
  

Practicing safe surfing habits will significantly reduce your chances of being infected with malware.

• Read EULAs before clicking on them when installing software.
• Read and understand what you are clicking when a window pops up while you are surfing-- If it is a window telling you your machine might be infected, don't click on it unless you know it's a message from the installed AV software or you will be guaranteed infection.
• Don't surf for pr0n, warez, crackz, etc.
• Exercise extreme caution when using peer-to-peer applications (yes, there are legal uses for such).
• Disconnect your internet connection when not surfing. This is a no-brainer for us 56k bubbas, but cable subscribers don't bother and that leaves the bad guys plenty of opportunity to turn those always online machines into DDOS zombies.
• Find an alternative browser to Internet Explorer as it is the favorite target of malcontents.
• If possible, use a firewall, particularly for those "always on" connections.

In addition to Dngr's tip here are a couple of other tips relating to web surfing.

• Always install hotfixes and security updates for you browser. The designer's release these as security issues are discovered.
• Consider using a HOSTS file. Proper use of a Hosts file can greatly reduce risk of infection by blocking unwanted sites. See link below for more information.
• Don't follow a link unless you know it's destination. If you are unsure, it's probably not that important.
• Disable ActiveX controls. ActiveX control allow webpages to gain control of certain functions on your computer. Unless you are on a trusted site, you probably don't need them to run.
• Consider changing browsers. Browser such as Firefox and Opera have far less security risks than Internet Explorer.
• If you are going to use Internet Explorer, consider using Restricted Zones to block unwanted sites.

Click Here for more information on Hosts files

Windows stores information about how it is configured in a centralised database called the Registry. The Registry not only contains information about how Windows is set up on your PC, but also how each application you have installed is configured.

Storing all this information centrally makes it easy to adjust settings and keep track of configuration information, but it makes for one giant vulnerability in the operating system. If your Registry gets damaged your system may be rendered unusable. Even minor Registry errors can cause programs to crash or behave erratically.

That’s why whenever you use the Registry Editor (regedit) to change settings within the Registry, you’re admonished to make a backup first. No doubt you’ve seen this warning frequently.

That’s all very well, but what do you do if something does go wrong with your Registry? How do you restore that backup?

Windows gives you a variety of ways to recover from a damaged Registry. We’ll look at the simplest way to get you back up and running after a disaster. But before that, let’s look at the easiest way to ensure you have a current backup of your Registry.
Automatic backups

The good news is Windows 98 and Me automate the process of creating a Registry backup (Windows XP does, too, although the Registry is organised differently under Windows XP and Windows 2000). Once each day, the Windows-based Registry Checker tool (scanregw.exe) backs up the Registry – which consists of the two files user.dat and system.dat and, in some cases, a third file, policy.pol as well – to the hidden \Windows\Sysbckup folder. (Note: To make this hidden folder visible, open Windows Explorer and select Folder Options from the Tools or View Menu. Click the View tab and, under Hidden Files, select Show All Files and remove the tick beside Hide File Extensions For Known File Types.)

The backed up Registry files are placed in a Cabinet (CAB) file called RB0nn.cab, where nn is a number from 01 to 99, together with backups of two other important system files, system.ini and win.ini. By default, the Registry Checker makes a maximum of five Registry backups, named RB001.cab - RB005.cab. When five backups already exist, the Registry Checker creates the next backup by overwriting the oldest CAB file. You can thus determine the most recent Registry backup by comparing the file dates of each of the CAB files.
Manual backups

You can use the Registry Checker to create a backup of the Registry at any time. This is a good idea if you’re about to edit the Registry and want to ensure you can get yourself back up and running if anything goes wrong. Before you use the Registry Editor, run the Registry Checker manually:

1. Click Start -> Run, type scanregw in the Open box and click OK.
2. The Registry Checker will check the Registry for errors and, if none are found, will tell you that a backup of the Registry has already been made today. It will offer to make an additional backup. Click Yes to create this new backup then click OK once the backup has been created.

Restoring the Registry

If something goes wrong and you need to replace the current version of the Registry with one of your backups, here’s how:

1. Start your computer in MS-DOS mode. If you’re using Windows 98, do this by restarting the computer and holding down the Ctrl key (on some computers, you use the F8 key) until the boot menu appears. From the boot menu select Command Prompt Only. If you’re using Windows Me, you’ll need to use your Windows Me Startup floppy disk (you do have one, don’t you?). Restart your computer with the floppy disk in the drive and choose Minimal Boot. If you don’t have a Windows Me Startup disk, make one now before disaster strikes, by clicking Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs -> Startup Disk and following the prompts.

2. At the DOS prompt, type:

scanreg /restore

This runs the DOS-based version of the Registry Checker tool.

3. Select a backup from the list provided – usually the most recent backup is the best option – and press Enter.
4. Press Enter to restart your computer (remove the boot disk from the floppy drive first if you’ve used one).

For Windows XP systems, I would recommend creating a restore point before you do any changes to the registry. This is the easiest method of returning your registry to it's previous state. To do this:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore.
2. In the System Restore dialog box, click Create a restore point, and then click Next.
3. Type a description for your restore point, such as "Before Registry Change", then click Create.
4. If your system fails, press F8 in the boot menu, and then click Last known good configuration. Windows XP restores your system to the most recent restore point.

Hope this is of help to anyone.

When the control panel will not start, go into search, and move the directory to system32. Search ".cpl" excluding the quotation marks. Make a folder on the desktop called "temp", again, excluding quotations. Move the .cpl files to the temp folder, you may notice them returning in the search window, this is a good thing. Open control panel, and it should work, then delete the temp folder.

ok folks, so your nice happy windows xp pc, is all messed up with malware, or some other problem and you need to format and re-install the operating system. If this is true read on.

What you will need:
1) your windows Xp installation disk (this one's the mama disk )
2) an empty floppy (or a floppy with no valuable data on it)
3) win 9x boot disk image.

for #3 i prefer to use a windows 98 SE boot disk with has Smartdrv.exe (a disk cache program) on it. There is a nifty little program that will create this for you located here

Before you proceed if you have any data you want to back up please copy it onto a different harddisk partition. ie. the partition on which we will NOT be formating and installing windowsXP again. Please not that some applications may need to be re-installed, as just copying the folders will not be sufficient. I specify this primarily for your "my documents" folder.

How to create the bootdisk:
=====================
step1: download the file from the link i provided for #3
step2: put a 3 1/2 inch floppy into the floppy drive which contains no data, or data which you dont mind losing.
step3: double click the file you have just downloaded.

**Caution: running this program will make you loose any data on the floppy disk you have inserted******

step3: once this disk is ready, leave it in the floppy drive, and pop your windows xp cd into the cd tray, close any windows at open up autoimatically on detecting the cd.

I Made the bootdisk. now how to go about formating my drive
==========================================
great going so far.

step5 : restart your computer. You now need to enter your BIOS and set it so that the computer will boot first from floppy and then from cd, and last from harddisk. To do this, as soon as your comp is has shutdown, and is in the proceses of restarting, you have to press and hold the DEL key (maybe the F10 or F12 key for some computer systems). This will take you to your BIOS screen. Most BIOS systems will have a simple way for you to set you primary, seconday and third boot devices. Make the first boot device floppy, second cd-rom and third your hardisk.

step6 : save and exit the bios. the computer will now restart and give you the option to boot from floppy. if it does not automatically boot from floppy, and asks you to choose, please select "yes, boot from floppy".

step 7: there will be a short wait while your computer loads windows 98 from the floppy disk. it will finally land you at the a:>\ prompt.

step 8: Now type the command "format c:" without the quotes.
(i assume your windows system is installed to c: and this is the drive we want to format and re-install the OS onto)

step 9: once the format is complete, please type this command
"smartdrv". there will be no acknowledgement for this command from the system, it just return you to the A:>\ prompt.

ok my c: drive is formatted now how do i install xp
======================================
excellent. we are almost done.

step 10: Now we have switch to your cd rom, which contains your xp cd. most probably this will be a drive like D: or E: or maybe even F: so please type "d:", or "e:", and follow each of them up with this command "dir/p". The "dir/p" command will give you a directory listing of the drive you are on currently. The cd rom drive will have a listing of a folders by the name of I386. This is the folder we want to get though. so when on this drive type the following command "cd I386".

step 11: the prompt should change to something like this "D:>\i386" or "E:>\I386\". now type the command "winnt".

step12 :now grab some coffee, and sit back and let the windows install take over.

Note: after you get your xp installed you can revert your BIOS boot device priority to Harddisk first.

If you dont want to go through the hassle of using a boot disk, then you can format using your xp disk directly. please note that for this, your BIOS should support booting from cd.
Make sure you Bios is set to boot from CD (see step 5 of the above post) and there is no floppy in the floppy drive.

************NOTE:: VERY IMPORTANT **********
by this method you will LOOSE ALL DATA on ALL your hardisk partitions. there will be no going back once your partitions have been wiped. This is an abosolute, clean slate to begin with.
*********************************************

Boot the computer with the XP CD in the drive and allow setup to begin. When you come to the screen where you select the drive partition you should see the drive listed with all the space listed as unpartitioned. If the drive was in use previously, you'll need to delete all the existing partitions. To do this you'll have to hit the 'D' key followed by the 'L' key. The screen instructions will be visible to guide the process.

Once all the existing partitions are deleted the display will show the total unpartitioned disk space.

Hit the 'C' key to create a partition. If you only want one partition then hit enter and the entire disk space will be allocated to the C Drive, but it will be NTFS, assuming the drive is 32GB or larger. However, if you want to create several FAT32 partitions then do not hit the Enter key. Instead, hit 'Backspace' until the cursor moves to the first digit. Enter the size of the first partition to be created.

Repeat the create partition process as many times as you want till all available space is allocated to partitions.

Once all the partitions have been created, use the 'Up' arrow key to select the C drive partition to install XP on and select to format it with FAT32 if you are sure that NTFS isn't a viable file system in your situation.

After XP has been installed and is running, navigate to Disk Management and format the other partitions with either FAT32 or NTFS. This step is necessary before the partitions will be available for use.

Each time you install your legal copy of Windows Xp on the same machine, you have to keep re-activating the operating system. This can be quite pesky.

There is a simple work-around to this.

After installing windows Xp professional on a machine, the registration settings are stored in a file called "wpa.dbl" located in the %systemroot%\windows\system32 directory where %systemroot% is a variable that will denote the drive on to which you have installed windows (typically C: ).

Copy this file and save it either to a floppy or cd or usb pen drive, or even a different partition.

If you ever need to re-install windows simply copy this backed up file over the new file of your new installation, which you will find in the same directory as mentioned above. Thats it. You will not be asked to register your new copy of windows again.

However keep in mind that this will only work for your own installation of Windows Xp on your machine. This method will not work if you try to copy the file to an installation of windows on another computer. Sorry no piracy allowed

For advanced users who want a deeper understanding how the registration process of microsfot works, and why this above method is possible, please see the document i had posted once before and linked to below.

Windows Cd Key & Registration

One of the features of Windows Xp is its ability to defragment the bootup files on startup. this causes the files that are required during boot to be placed close toward the star