WINDOWS XP - TIPS [ 7 ]

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Adding SafeBoot to the Boot Menu

Added 4/23/02
You can add Safeboot as an option to the normal XP boot screen

1. Open a command prompt
2. Copy the current c:\boot.ini to another name (just in case)
3. With your favorite text editor, edit c:\boot.ini
4. Copy then edit the current boot line to another line. For example:
   multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
   might copy and then change to:
   multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Safeboot" /fastdetect
5. Start MSCONFIG
6. Click on the BOOT.INI tab
7. Highlight the second line with the additional name of Safeboot
8. Check the /SAFEBOOT box with option you want
   Minimal - Minimal set of drivers
   Network - With Network Support
   Dsrepair - Directory Services Repair
   Minimal (Alternate Shell) - Standard Explorer Desktop
9. You will now have this option every time you start XP

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No GUI Boot

Added 4/23/02
If you don't need to see the XP boot logo,

1. Run MSCONFIG
2. Click on the BOOT.INI tab
3. Check the box for /NOGUIBOOT

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Speeding the Startup of Some CD Burner Programs

Added 4/23/02
If you use program other than the native WindowsXP CD Burner software,
you might be able to increase the speed that it loads.

1. Go to Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services
2. Double-click on IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
3. For the Startup Type, select Disabled
4. Click on the OK button and then close the Services window
5. If you dontYou should notice

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 Getting Rid of Unread Email Messages

Updated 4/20/02
To remove the Unread Email message by user's login names:

1. Start Regedit
2. For a single user: Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail
3. For all users: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail
4. Create a DWORD key called MessageExpiryDays
5. Give it a value of 0

Download reg file

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 Using the Internet Explorer Classic Search

Added 4/20/02
If you want to use the classic search engine in the Internet Explorer

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
3. If it is not there, create a String Value of Use Search Asst
4. Give it a value of no

Download reg file

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 Logging in as Administrator

Added 4/11/02
If you want to log in as Administrator, but it is not show on the Welcome screen,

1. Hold the Ctrl-Alt key and press Del twice.
2. This will bring up the normal login and you can log on as Administrator

To unhide the Administrator account so it does show up:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList
3. Unhide the Administrator key by giving it a value of 1

Download reg file

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 Correcting Fast User Switching Error

Added 4/11/02
If you are getting an error that:
A recently installed program has disabled the Welcome screen and Fast User Switching
with a reference to CSGina.DLL

1. Start Regedit
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. Delete the key GinaDLL

Download reg file

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 Using the Classic Search in Explorer

Added 4/11/02
If you prefer to use the classic search style in Explorer,

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState
3. Add a String Key called Use Search Asst
4. Give it a value of no

Download reg file

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No To All When Overwriting Files

Added 4/5/02
When overwriting files in the Windows Explorer, there is an option for Yes To All.
This would overwrite any files you would normally be prompted for.
To have No To All, simply hold down the Shift key while you click on the No option.

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 Re-Installing User Login Pictures

Added 4/5/02
Normally WindowsXP shows assigned pictures for each user on the system.
If you have deleted your user pictures, want to know the location, or need to reinstall them,
they are stored in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures
directory.
If you need to reinstall them, they can be expanded from the source CD. The actual files are:
airplane.bmp
astronaut.bmp
ball.bmp
butterfly.bmp
cat.bmp
fish.bmp
pink flower.bmp
guitar.bmp
snowflake.bmp
beach.bmp
car.bmp
chess.bmp
dirt bike.bmp
dog.bmp
drip.bmp
duck.bmp
frog.bmp
horses.bmp
kick.bmp
lift-off.bmp
palm tree.bmp
red flower.bmp
skater.bmp
 

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 WINIPCFG for XP

Added 4/1/02
If you like the graphic IP configuration program that comes with Windows98,
you can download a similar one for WindowsXP or Windows2000 from Microsoft at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/wntipcfg-o.asp
The actual file is at:
WntIpcfg_setup.exe

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 Search Companion Error

Added 4/1/02
When doing a file search, if you get the error A File That Is Required to Run Search Companion Cannot Be Found

1. Log on as an Administrator
2. Click Start
3. Select Run
4. Enter in the command - %systemroot%\inf
5. Right-click the Srchasst.inf file
6. Click Install

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Installing the Backup Program on the Home Version

Added 4/1/02
By default, the NTBACKUP program is not installed on the home version.
You can find it on the CD in the \VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP directory
Since not all vendors include the actual source code for XP,
you can download a copy

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Changing Drive Letters

Added 3/30/02
If you want to change the letters assigned to your fixed or removable drives:

1. Right Click on My Computer
2. Select Manage
3. Select Disk Management

For a Fixed Disk:

1. Select it
2. Right click
3. Select Change Drive Letter and Path
4. Click on the Edit button
5. Enter in the letter you want to use

For a Removable Disk:

1. In the lower, right hand panel, right click on the Disk or CD ROM # 
2. Select Change Drive Letter and Path
3. Click on the Edit button
4. Enter in the letter you want to use

Note: This can only be done for drives that do not have the Operating System Installed or you are booting to.

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 Turn off the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer as the Default Image Viewer

Updated 3/29/02
You can also change the file associations for the specific file types you want.

1. Open the Windows Explorer
2. Go to Tools / Folder Options / File Types
3. Scroll down to the extension you want to change
4. Click on the Change button
5. Select the program you want to associate with that extension
6. Click on the OK button

Added 3/4/02
If the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer is set as the default for many of your graphic file types,
you can remove it so other graphics programs can be used.

1. Run Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / SystemFileAssociations / image / ShellEx / ContextMenuHandlers
3. Delete the key ShellImagePreview

Download reg file

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 Allowing Network Access with Blank Passwords

Added 3/23/02
Although you can log in locally without a password, by default, WindowsXP Pro does not allow network users to access the computer without a password. Typically you will receive an Unknown error 31 if this is the case.
To change this setting:

1. Run gpedit.msc
2. Go to Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options
3. Double click on Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console login only
4. Disable this option