Windows XP Home Edition Instructor Manual

Introduction

This module covers must-know topics for technical support of Microsoft® Windows XP and is designed to familiarize participants with new features, enhancements, and built in tools.  This course is designed to help support specialists use tools and resources to efficiently solve customer support questions. Note: If the unit comes preinstalled with Windows XP and is less than 21 days old it is supported by the Hardware Support team.

 

Objectives

At the completion of this module you will be able to:

Identify the hardware requirements for XP.

State the differences between Pro vs. Home.

Diagnose problems with the computer configuration MSCONFIG

Windows Registry

System Restore Points

Understand the function and information MSINFO32 provides

Control Panel

Windows Update

View messages such as errors, warnings, or successes generated by software and operating system components using the Event Viewer

Locate and use the Hardware software/hardware compatibility list

Explain Windows XP Startup Menu

Explain what is Safe Mode?

Explain what is Last Known Good Configuration?

Identify new features of Windows XP Device Manager

Install, update, and uninstall drivers using Device Manager

Identify the primary disk tools with in XP

Use Driver Rollbacks to reinstall previously used drivers

Use Network setup wizard

Troubleshoot Firewall problems

Configure a LAN or high-speed connection

Understand the importance and utilize the following built in Troubleshooting tools

User accounts

USB and IEEE1394

Launch and use the Help and Support Center

Folder settings and permission

Identify and use the different categories within Help and Support Center

Identify the two views of the Control Panel

Use Control Panel and understand what function the different Categories perform

Gather information on one system and use them on a second computer using File Setting Transfer wizard

Hardware Requirements

·       PC with 233 MHz CPU minimum required (300 MHZ or higher recommended single or dual CPU for Windows XP Professional) Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

·       64 MB of RAM minimum required, may limit performance and some features (128MB of RAM or higher recommended)

·       1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space

·       Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor

·       CD-ROM or DVD drive

·       Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Home Vs Pro
There are two types of Windows XP operating system:

n        XP Professional: used to replace Win2000 workstations in Workgroup or Domain configurations.

n        XP Home: used to replace WinME in Home or Stand alone configurations.

 

Installation

The hardware requirements for installing Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional are similar; however Windows XP Home Edition supports only one CPU.

Users can upgrade to Windows XP Home Edition from Windows 98 or Windows Me — but not from Windows 95, Microsoft® Windows NT® Workstation or Windows 2000 Professional. You can upgrade to Windows XP Professional from any of those operating systems, except Windows 95.

Because Windows XP Professional is targeted to businesses, it contains several features that are not included with Windows XP Home Edition.

Note: Computers running Windows XP Home Edition cannot join corporate domains. For this reason, features that require machine accounts within a domain, such as Group Policy, are not available in Windows XP Home Edition.

The following corporate management features are not included with Windows XP Home Edition:

 

·       Folder Redirection

·       System (Poledit), Group and Local Policy settings

·       Roaming User Profiles

·       Offline Files and Folders

·       Software Installation and Maintenance

·       Remote Installation Services (RIS)

·       Encrypting File System (EFS)

·       Dynamic disks

·       Allows only limited control over Access Control Lists (ACLS) to allow simple file sharing. Simplified file sharing in Windows XP allows for three states: Me Only, Local Users, and The World.

·       Administrative shares (available only when joined to a domain)

·       Log on using dial-up connection option in Log On to Windows dialog box

·       Automated System Recovery (ASR), which is designed for servers or advanced workstations that have complex disk configurations, is not included with WinXP Home

·       Remote Desktop Service

·       Multilanguage user interface

·       Start menu option to show administrative tools

·       Internet Information Services (IIS)

Tools

System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG)
The System Configuration utility automates the routine troubleshooting steps that Dell Product Support Professionals use when they diagnose system configuration issues. When you use this tool to modify the system configuration, you can select check boxes to eliminate issues that do not pertain to your configuration. This process reduces the risk of typing errors that can occur if you use a text editor such as Notepad. You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to use the System Configuration utility.
Simply put, this utility allows you to create a clean environment in which to work from.

Fig 1 System Configuration Utility

 

To start the System Configuration utility (MSCONFIG), click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.

 

Fig. 2 How to launch System Configuration utility

 

When you use Msconfig.exe, you can easily reset or change the configuration settings in Windows to include preferences for the following files and settings:

System.ini file -Initialization file used with Microsoft Windows to initialize system settings for the computer such as the fonts, keyboard, language and various other settings. The system.ini file is located in the c:\windows directory and its backup is generally system

Win.ini file - The Microsoft Windows initialization file located in windows directory. The win.ini file is used to load various settings each time Windows boots, for example the communications drivers, wallpaper, screen saver, languages, fonts, etc... are loaded each time the win.ini is initialized. If this file becomes corrupt or bad Windows will either not load, or have several errors as it loads.

Boot.ini file - Windows (specifically Ntldr) uses the Booot.ini file to determine the operating system options to display during the startup (boot) process. Boot.ini is flagged as a read-only system file by default and should not require any manual modification.

Services - Services are generally considered important components of operating system code that provide functionality for various hardware, applications, tasks, and so on. Of course, you shouldn't attempt to disable core operating system kernel processes and related services that manage process scheduling, interrupt handing, file management, virtual memory management, etc. But in our context, there are many less critical services, invoked by default, layered atop or working alongside the core operating system services that may be disabled or modified to improve system responsiveness or performance, without serious side effects.

Startup – This tab allows you to select which programs load or don’t.
There are many different methods in which to prevent any of these items from loading when you restart the computer.

Fig. 3 Diagnostic startup

 

NOTE: This method temporarily disables Microsoft services (for example, Networking, Plug and Play, Event Logging, and Error Reporting) and permanently deletes all restore points for the System Restore utility. Do not do this if you want to retain your restore points for System Restore or need to use a Microsoft service to test a problem. Instead it is suggested to click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup. You can select the options that you do not want to load when you restart the computer. These options include:

Process SYSTEM.INI File
Process WIN.INI File
Load System Services
Load Startup Items

Fig. 4 Selective Startup

The following settings apply to these options:

§        If the check box is selected, the configuration file is processed when you restart the computer.

§        If the check box is cleared, the configuration file is not processed when you restart the computer.

§        If the check box is selected but is unavailable, some items are still loading from that configuration file when you restart the computer.

§        If the check box is not selected, but is unavailable, the configuration file is not present on the computer.

§        You cannot clear the Use Original BOOT.INI check box.

To prevent individual items or lines form a specific configuration file from loading when you restart your computer, click the tab for that particular configuration file, and then click to clear the check box for the individual line or item that you do not want to load. Check boxes that are unavailable on the SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI tabs indicate that the lines are temporarily removed by the System Configuration utility.

 

Fig. 5 Line items

 

·        To change the currently active line or item, click a different line or item, or click Move Up or Move Down to move between items.

·        To create a new entry in any of the configuration files, click New.

·        To edit a line that is currently selected, click Edit.

Note: When you click to clear a check box for an item or a line, the Selective Startup option (on the General tab) is automatically selected. Please see Fig.6 showing how the General Tab will display when a line item has been de selected in the system.ini, this applies to any tab and line item.

 

Fig. 6

 

After you make the selections that you want, click OK, and then restart the computer when you are prompted to initiate the changes.

 

Before you begin a troubleshooting session, you can use the System Configuration utility to initiate a System Restore operation. To do this, click the General tab, and then click Launch System Restore. You can then create a restore point that you can use to restore your computer to a previous state.

NOTE: Restore points will be discussed later in this manual.

 

Fig. 7 System Restore

 

To verify that all of the configuration files and all of the items that are listed in those files are loaded when you restart your computer, click the General tab, and then click Normal startup.

 

TO HIDE OR NOT TO HIDE?
At times application and device drives will load a system service that may cause system instability, when troubleshooting startup and window environment issues it may be a good idea to determine 3^rd party installed services and deactivate them. To accomplish this click the services tab and place a check mark in the box labeled hide all Microsoft services, this allows you to determine add in services that may be causing system faults.
Note: If your customer is having difficulties installing hardware such as USB or IEEE1394, the students should consider the possibility that a 3^rd party service is causing the problem

Fig. 8 All services showing

 

Fig. 9 All Microsoft services hidden

 

Expand File

To extract individual Windows files directly from the cabinet files, click the General tab, and then click Expand File. If a system file is required for many different reasons, utilize the expand File tool to extract the appropriate file(s).

 

Fig. 10 Expand File

Registry
Open the Registry Editor [Fig. 11] using Start > Run and typing regedit in the Open: line and you'll see it's divided into two panes. Understanding Registry Editor is much easier if you think of the left pane as the Keys Pane and the right side as the Values Pane. In the left pane there are five (5) main divisions or root keys as shown below.
Registry Editor uses a hierarchical structure similar to Windows Explorer but with one major difference. In Windows Explorer you have folders in both the left and right hand panes, but in Registry Editor there are never any folder icons in the right hand section. In Registry Editor the yellow folder icon really denotes a separate and distinct key. Since the right hand pane is reserved for values only there are no folders displayed in that pane.
Each of the five main keys can be expanded to reveal additional keys or what some refer to as sub-keys. Many sub-keys have sub-keys below them, in some cases the amount of sub-keys becoming almost unbelievably long, but in the same manner that Windows Explorer works, registry locations are defined by a path. Just remember that any reference to a registry location begins with one of the five root keys.

Fig. 11 Registry editor

Notice at the bottom of Registry Editor that My Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT is displayed. This display will change as you navigate down through the registry structure; very handy for keeping track of where you are rather than having to scroll upward if the mind momentarily goes blank while you are editing.

Each heading and what do they do?

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT - This section of the registry is in charge of three important tasks:

§        Keeping track of the file extensions and their associations with file types. A group of file extension sub keys is devoted to this purpose.

§        Keeping track of the programs associated with the file types that are registered in the system. A group of class-definition sub keys is devoted to this information.

§        Keeping track of information about OLE objects and documents. Within the sub key \CLSID are the class identifier subkeys that are devoted to tracking this information.

The fact is that you very probably don’t even need this key–it’s a duplicate of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes. It’s actually even more than a duplicate–it’s a hot link, and if you make changes to a key in one, the same change is made to the other instantaneously.

 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER - contains the same information as that listed by the security identifier in HKEY_USERS. Any change made to HKEY_CURRENT_USER is immediately made to HKEY_USERS also. The opposite is also true. HKEY_CURRENT_USER allows programmers and developers easy access to the currently logged-on user's settings. By establishing this key Microsoft made it very easy to make changes, additions, and settings without concern for the user's SID.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - is the keeper of the configuration data for a computer. Both hardware and software are tracked in this key, along with other varied information about both entities. For example, not only does this key include specific information about the configuration of your hardware and peripherals, but it also stores all the available choices for making changes (the keyboard language options fill up several pages if you print them out). These are the choices you see as you configure your machine through the Control Panel. This key is enormous. This is where to find everything you ever wanted to know about a computer – perhaps more than you ever wanted to know.

 

HKEY_USERS – See HKEY_LOCAL_USER

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG - It is a shortcut to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current and will change depending on the hardware file. Stores information about the hardware profile specified at startup. The mapping of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE for the current configuration is in HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG.

 

If the system has only one configuration, the original configuration, the data will always be the same here. Creating an extra configuration in Control Panel/System/Hardware Profiles puts extra information in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

The hardware profile that is selected on boot up is mapped into HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG.

Types of Registry Backups
It is critical that before you do any editing you make a backup of the current registry. The temptation to make 'one little change' without backing up is great. It can also be deadly. That said, there are different ways of backing up so let's look at each one individually.
Backing up is simply exporting information from the registry into a file that is saved on your system. When you invoke the export function you are given a choice of different file types that can be saved.

Fig. 12

Each one of the different file types above plays an important role in how the data you export is saved. Choosing the wrong type can give you unexpected results. Understanding each type and when to use it is essential.

·        Registration Files: The Registration Files option creates a .reg file. This is probably the most well-known file format used for backing up the registry. The Registration File can be used in two ways. As a text file it can be read and edited using Notepad outside of Registry Editor. Once the changes have been made and saved, right clicking the file and using the [Merge] command adds the changed file back into the registry. If you make additions to the registry using regedit and then merge the previously saved Registration File, anything that you've added via regedit will not be removed, but changes you make to data using regedit that previously existed in the saved Registration File will be overwritten when it is merged.

·        Registry Hive Files: Unlike the Registration Files option above, the Registry Hive Files option creates a binary image of the selected registry key. The image file is not editable via Notepad nor can you view its contents using a text editor. However, what the Registry Hive Files format does is create an image perfect view of the selected key and allow you to import it back into the registry to ensure any problematic changes you made are eliminated.

·        Text Files: This option does just as the name suggests. It creates a text file containing the information in the selected key. It's most useful purpose is creating a record or snapshot of a key at a particular point in time that you can refer back to if necessary. It cannot be merged back into the registry like a Registration File.

·        Win9x/NT4 Registration Files: This option creates a .reg file in the same manner used by the Registration Files option. It's used by previous Windows versions and serves no purpose in XP unless you want to merge a key from XP into a previous version of Windows.

Considering the four choices above, the most effective and safest method of backing up the registry is to use the Registry Hive Files option. No matter what goes wrong in your editing, importing the image of the key will eliminate all changes, additions, or other things that might have occurred.
If you want to edit outside the confines of regedit, or if you are sure you want your additions to the registry to remain even if you have to merge, use Registration Files for your backup.
If you just want a copy of the key that can be referenced using a text editor, but want to eliminate any chance of the file being accidentally merged back into the registry, use Text Files.

The Actual Backup Process
The actual process of backing up the registry is quite simple once you've decided the file type for the backup and whether you want to back up an individual key or the entire registry. In the left hand pane of regedit, select the key to be backed up, right click and select [Export] to open the Export Registry File Property Sheet. From there, it's merely a matter of assigning the backup a descriptive filename and selecting the type of backup file you want based on the discussion above. To be on the safe side, it certainly wouldn't hurt to make a backup in both Registry Hive Files and Registration Files formats.
There are two notes you should be aware of regarding what can be backed up using specific file types.

·        If My Computer is selected in the left pane of regedit, you will not be allowed to make a backup using the Registry Hive Files format. This is equivalent to backing up the entire registry. XP requires you to use the System State backup in this instance. (Backing up the System State is discussed further down in this article)

·        If My Computer is selected in the left pane of regedit, you may select Registration Files as the backup file format but this is not the recommended method for a complete registry backup.

Fig. 13

 

Backing up Individual Values
Take a quick look at Fig. 13 and you'll note it displays the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop key. In the Values Pane you'll see the WaitToKillAppTimeout value that is currently set to 5000. It will be the subject of backing up individual values.
It's important to remember that the registry is really just a big compilation of data and settings that sits there waiting to be accessed by XP itself or by an installed application. By itself it does nothing. At first glance that may not seem to be of much importance, but it can be useful when you consider that the truly useful information in the registry is stored in the values. Look at the majority of registry edits and you'll see they involve changing values, not adding or removing keys. Combine that knowledge with the fact that XP or an application has to be programmed to access the values or else they are useless and that provides a quick, easy way to back up individual values.
Fig. 14 illustrates how the previous information is applied to backing up values of keys that might be modified. It's important to note that this section applies to values, not keys. For this example I have decided to modify the value of the string WaitToKillAppTimeout. The WaitToKillAppTimeout string value highlighted in red is the original string value with a value of 5000 that I'm going to modify. Once I modify the value I might forget what the original value was (5000) before I decide if the change I make is appropriate. To guard against the original value being forgotten, I've created the string value TEG_WaitToKillAppTimeout that's shown highlighted in green. For this tutorial I've used TEG_ before the real value name but you can use anything convenient. If your dog was named Fido, you might use Fido_ before the real value name.

Fig. 14

Now, looking at the screen capture below, I can go back to the original string value (the one highlighted in red) and make the change to the new (4000) value. At this point the question is often asked why having the two values listed in the registry doesn't cause a conflict. Remember what was said previously; XP or an application has to be programmed to access the values or else they are useless. There is no application or part of XP that is programmed to look for a string value named TEG_WaitToKillAppTimeout so it can happily co-exist with WaitToKillAppTimeout, providing a journal or record of what changes have been made to the registry. For a more detailed record you can add a date to the prefix which might look like TEG08252003_WaitToKillAppTimeout that is shown highlighted in blue.

Fig. 15

If the change doesn't work out all you have to do is reference the backed up entry (the one highlighted in green or blue) for the original value and change the value that was modified (the one in red) back to the original value. An easier way to revert back to the original value is to delete the modified string (the one in red) and then right click the backup strings (green or blue) and select Rename. Eliminate the prefix that was added to return the string to its original configuration.
If you do a lot of registry tweaking and modification of existing values this is an excellent method because it provides a visual record of any modifications that have been made to the registry values. Two months from now if I want to know if I made a modification to the WaitToKillAppTimeout value, all I have to do is open Registry Editor, navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop key and compare the WaitToKillAppTimeout with the backup entries. By using the dated prefix I can not only tell what change was made but what date it was modified. After the value modification has been tested you can go back and remove the new prefixed values that were created if it bothers you having them remain in the registry. I always leave them as a permanent record and have never noticed any problems or system performance penalty.

Backing up Individual Keys

Prefix Method
One of the first questions that always comes up after reading the previous section is what happens if the prefix method is used to back up keys rather than just individual values. It's a good question and let’s go through another example to try and explain one possible scenario.
In the previous section we were working in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop key so lets apply a prefix to the Desktop key and see what happens.

·        Open Fig. 16 to see HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop before any changes are made. Note that HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop also has a sub-key WindowMetrics.

·        Open Fig. 17 to see the change made to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Nothing has been altered other than adding the TEG_ prefix to the Desktop key. No changes were made to the sub-key WindowMetrics.

What do you think happened when the change was made and the user logged off and back on?

·        Open Fig. 18 and you'll see that XP automatically recreated the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop key that is shown with the green highlight. However, it's a far cry from what the original HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop key looked like before it was modified to TEG_HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. There is only one entry in the Values Pane and that is Default, plus there is no sub-key for WindowMetrics. You can also see that the default Bliss background is also missing from the desktop.

         
  Fig. 16                    Fig. 17                     Fig. 18

So, what does this tell us about adding a prefix as a method of backing up keys? First and foremost it shows that while it yields some interesting results it's not a suitable method for backing up registry keys. The results are unpredictable at best and when you're dealing with the registry you want a method that's rock solid. That's not to say though that the procedure is totally without merit when it comes to keys. As a troubleshooting tool it can be handy to rename a key with a prefix and then see if XP or even an application will recreate the basic key. In effect the prefix hides the registry key from XP so you can see what effect deleting the key would have while still giving you a method of restoring the key that was hidden by the prefix.
The bottom line is; play around with this method but make sure you have another proven backup in place first.

.REG File Method
Unlike the previous methods discussed, using .reg files to back up individual keys and entire branches of the registry is a well established, proven method that is used daily by millions of registry tweakers. Refer back to Fig. 13 and the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop key that is highlighted in the Key Pane.
The actual backup procedure is simple. In the Keys Pane, right click on the individual key (in this case Desktop) you want to back up, click [Export], assign the backup a descriptive filename and select the type of  backup file being created. In Fig. 19 I used the file name Desktop and because we are discussing .reg backups I selected Registration Files [*.reg] as the file type.

Fig. 19

Notice the radio button by [Selected Branch] that details what key is actually being saved. A quick check of this information can help prevent ending up with a backup of the wrong key that might not be discovered until it's too late. Once [Save] is clicked the key will be saved to a file named Desktop.reg in the location you specify. Some additional points;

·        When the key entry point for the backup is determined, in this case HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, all the sub-keys beneath that point will also be backed up. In this example, that means that in addition to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop you will also be backing up HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics.

·        Often times users accidentally move higher up in the registry hierarchy when backing up than is necessary. In this example, if I'd set the key entry point for HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel, the intended key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop would be backed up, but in addition many other unnecessary keys would also be a part of the backup. Keep specific key backups as compact as possible by not traveling up the key hierarchy further than is necessary. To illustrate how the .reg file can quickly increase in size if an incorrect entry point is selected take a look at the table below. It's quickly apparent that the last choice highlighted in red is the way to go. Not only will it require less disk space to save, it can be merged quickly and is easier to edit, if necessary, with less chance of error.

 

Restoring a .REG File Backup
There are four ways of restoring a .reg file backup.

·        Method One - From the Registry Editor menu bar select File > Import... and then navigate to where the .reg file is saved. Select the file and click Open. The contents of the .reg file will be merged into the current registry followed by a confirmation dialog stating the information in the file has been successfully entered into the registry. This is a low risk method because it forces you to consciously select the .reg file you want to import. Hopefully your mind is focused on the task at hand and the proper .reg file is selected.

·        Method Two - By default, Windows XP is configured so that when a .reg file is double-clicked it's automatically merged into the registry. To my way of thinking this is a rather high risk method, especially if you happen to double-click the wrong .reg file. Fortunately, this method does present a dialog box that states the name of the .reg file and asks if you're sure you want to add the contents of the file to the registry, then waits for your Yes or No confirmation. A Yes response will generate a confirmation dialog stating the information in the file has been successfully entered into the registry. Clicking No will end the process with no information being entered in the registry.

·        Method Three - Navigate to where the .reg file is saved and right click the file to open the context menu. Select Merge and a dialog box appears that states the name of the .reg file and asks if you're sure you want to add the contents of the file to the registry, then waits for your Yes or No confirmation. A Yes response will generate a confirmation dialog stating the information in the file has been successfully entered into the registry. Clicking No will end the process with no information being entered in the registry.

·        Method Four - Navigate to where the .reg file is saved and right click the file to open the context menu. Select Open With > Registry Editor and a dialog box appears that states the name of the .reg file and asks if you're sure you want to add the contents of the file to the registry, then waits for your Yes or No confirmation. A Yes response will generate a confirmation dialog stating the information in the file has been successfully entered into the registry. Clicking No will end the process with no information being entered in the registry.

The Downside of the .REG File Backup Method
It's pretty much a consensus among experienced registry editing users that allowing a double click on a .reg file to initiate the merging process can be dangerous in spite of the warning dialog box. Many have changed the default double-click action to open the .reg file in Notepad rather than start the merge process.
The basic weakness in a .reg file backup boils down to a two word war; Merge versus Replace. Assume for a moment you've made a .reg backup and safely tucked it away. You go ahead and edit the registry using Registry Editor, but unfortunately your changes don't work as planned. You turn to the .reg backup file and expect that running it will restore the registry to the way it was prior to your edits. Will it really do so or are your expectations about to be dashed? The answer is; maybe, depending on what edits you made. This is where Merge versus Replace comes into play. Let’s look at some If/Then statements.

·        [If] a value exists in the .reg file and also exists in the modified registry [Then] the value will be changed in the registry.

·        [If] a value exists in the .reg file but not in the modified registry [Then] the value will be added to the registry.

·        [If] a value does not exist in the .reg file but does exist in the modified registry [Then] the value will not be removed or changed in the registry.

·        [If] a value does not exist in the .reg file and does not exist in the modified registry [Then] there is no action to be taken in the registry.

The third item above, highlighted in red, is where the trouble or weakness with .reg backup files occurs. As long as the modifications made to the registry don't stray outside the bounds of what was included in the .reg backup things are fine. But if you've added a new key or value during the editing process there can be trouble. Importing the .reg backup file does not replace or remove additions to the registry that are not referenced in the .reg backup file.

Backing Up the System State
Backing up the System State includes the registry, the COM+ Class Registration Database, and boot files. Windows XP comes with Backup Utility accessible via [Start] [All Programs] [Accessories] [System Tools] [Backup]. In the Advanced Backup Wizard there is a setting to back up the System State either to one of the hard drives or a different media of your choosing. If the registry does become corrupt, the System State backup is used to restore the system.

System Restore
The last method of backing up the registry is using System Restore, another utility that is included with Windows XP. System Restore is best likened to a camera taking a complete snapshot of your computer system at one point in time and storing that image in what is called a restore point. This restore point can then be recalled at some point in the future, effectively overwriting any changes that have been made to the computer since the restore point was created. A more complete description of System Restore is available below.

Which Backup Method is best?
Truthfully, I think it's a matter of personal preference. All of the methods are good and offer some level of protection against disaster. None of the methods require an undue amount of time to complete and are well worth the security and peace of mind they supply. Bearing that in mind, I'd recommend using as many methods as time and practicality allow before editing the registry.
If I was limited to only one choice of backup before editing the registry I'd probably choose the Hive File method, but System Restore would also be a contender. The changes that occur when you edit the registry can be far reaching, well beyond just the particular key that is edited, and may not show up immediately. For that reason alone, System Restore affords protection to the entire system rather than just a single key, and if I do notice a side issue hours or days later after an editing session I can restore to a well tuned system.
Now that you've formulated your own best plan and methods for backing up the registry just in case things don't go as you'd planned, it's time to move onward to

 

System Restore

Windows XP Professional makes it easier to resolve problems if they occur in your system. You can use System Restore to remove any system changes that were made since the last time you remember your computer working correctly. System Restore does not affect your personal data files (such as Microsoft Word documents, browsing history, drawings, favorites, or e–mail) so you won’t lose changes made to these files. Windows XP creates “restore points” every day, as well as at the time of significant system events (such as when an application or driver is installed). You can also create and name your own restore points at any time. Creating a restore point can be useful any time you anticipate making changes to your computer that are risky or might make your computer unstable. If something goes wrong, you select a restore point and Windows XP undoes any system changes made since that time.
When you run System Restore, a calendar is displayed to help you find restore points. If you don't use your computer every day, some days might not have any restore points. If you use your computer frequently, you might have restore points almost every day, and some days might have several restore points.

To create a Restore Point

1.     Access the System Restore Wizard through Help and Support Center. (Click Start, and then click Help and Support. Click Performance and Maintenance, click Using System Restore to undo changes, and then click Run the System Restore Wizard. Or by running the System Information Utility (MSCONFIG) Launch System Restore

2.     Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.
 

3.     In the Restore point description box, type a name to identify this restore point. System Restore automatically adds to this name the date and time that this Restore Point is created.

4.     To finish creating this restore point, click Create.

5.     To cancel restore point creation and return to the Welcome to System Restore screen, click Back.

6.     To cancel restore point creation and exit the System Restore Wizard, click Cancel.

Fig. 23 Create a Restore Point

To view or to return to this restore point, from the Welcome to System Restore screen of the System Restore Wizard select Restore my computer to an earlier time. Then select the date when the restore point was created from the calendar in the Select a Restore Point screen. All of the restore points that were created on the selected date are listed by name in the list box to the right of the calendar.

To set advanced restore options

1.     Open Backup. (Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.)

The Backup Utility Wizard starts by default, unless it is disabled.
 

2.     Click the Advanced Mode button in the Backup Utility Wizard.
 

3.     Click the Restore and Manage Media menu and select the files to restore.
 

4.     Click the Start Restore button.
 

5.     On the Confirm Restore dialog box, click Advanced.
 

6.     Set the advanced restore options you want, and then click OK. See the Notes section for a description of each option.

To turn off Windows XP System Restore

1.     Click Start > Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer

2.     Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

3.     Click the System Restore tab.

4.     Check the "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives" check box as shown in this illustration

Fig. 26 Windows XP Restore Feature

 

5.     Click Apply. The following message appears

Fig. 27 Windows XP Restore Confirmation Box

6.     As noted in the message, this will delete all existing restore points. Click Yes to do this.

7.     Click OK.

8.     Proceed with what you need to do. For example, removing viruses. Restart the computer and follow the instructions in the next section to turn on System Restore.

To turn on Windows XP System Restore

1. Click Start.
2. Right-click My Computer and then click Properties.
3. Click the System Restore tab.
4. Uncheck the "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives" check box.
5. Click Apply, and then click OK.

IF Windows does not start

Start the System Restore tool from Command Prompt

1.     Restart your computer, and then press F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in Safe Mode with a command prompt.

2.     Log on to your computer with an administrator account or with an account that has administrator credentials.

3.     Type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER: %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

4.     Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to an earlier state.

Use for Troubleshooting Purposes

You may inadvertently restore Windows XP to a previous configuration that you do not want. To undo the restoration:

1.     Log on to Windows as Administrator.

2.     Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.

3.     On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Undo my last restoration, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.

4.     On the Confirm Restoration Undo page, click Next. System Restore restores the original Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.

5.     Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Undo Complete page appears.

6.     Click OK.

 

System Information (MSINFO32)
System Information collects system information, such as devices that are installed in your computer, or device drivers that are loaded in your computer, and provides a menu for displaying the associated system topics. You can use System Information to diagnose computer issues. For example, if you are having display issues, you can use System Information to determine what display adapter is installed on your computer, and to view the status of its drivers.
System Information maintains a history of device drivers that are installed on your computer. If you are unsure of a computer's recent history, you can use System Information to better understand what has happened in the past. If a device does not work correctly, and its history indicates a recent upgrade to a new driver, replace that driver with the original driver, and test to see if doing so resolves the issue.
System Information also provides access to tools you can use for troubleshooting your computer.
If you install an update from the Windows Update Web site, and it fails to meet your expectations, restore the original files by running the Update Wizard Uninstall from the Tools menu in the System Information tool. If your computer worked fine yesterday, but is not working properly today, try restoring yesterday's configuration files by running the System Restore utility from the Tools menu in the System Information tool.
For more information about tools that are included with System Information in Windows XP, see the "Tools Menu" section later in this article.

Fig. 28 System Information

 

 

To start Microsoft System Information, use either of the following methods:

·        Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.

·        Click Start, click Run, type msinfo32.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.

The information that is displayed in System Information is divided into the following five categories:

·        Hardware Resources

·        Components

·        Software Environment

·        Applications

·        Internet Explorer

The following sections describe the categories, and sub-categories that are displayed in System Information, and explain how you can use this information when you troubleshoot issues with your computer.

System Summary

The System Summary category provides a general profile of your computer. This information includes:

·        The version of Windows

·        OEM System Information (manufacturer, model, and type)

·        The type of central processing unit (CPU)

·        The amount of memory and system resources

·        BIOS version

·        Locale

·        Time zone

·        User name in the format DOMAINNAME\USERNAME (only present if the computer is configured to log into a domain)

·        Boot device (if multiple devices are present on the computer)

·        The path to the Page file

Use this information at the beginning of the troubleshooting process to develop a basic picture of the environment in which the issue occurs.

Hardware Resources
The Hardware Resources category displays hardware-specific settings, such as assigned, or used interrupt requests (IRQs), input/output (I/O) addresses, and memory addresses. The following list provides the sub-categories that are included in the Hardware Resources category.

Conflicts/Sharing
Lists the identified resource conflicts between Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) devices, and identifies resources that are shared by Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) devices. Use this information to help identify hardware conflicts.

DMA
Reports the direct memory access (DMA) channels that are in use, the devices that are using them, and those that are available for use.

Forced Hardware
Lists hardware devices in which the Plug and Play (PNP) configuration has been disabled ,and resource settings have been manually set to user-specified resources. Forced hardware would also apply to devices that do not participate in the PNP process such as legacy ISA devices. This information is useful when you want to troubleshoot Plug and Play resource conflicts.

I/O
Lists all I/O port ranges that are in use, and the devices that are using each range.

IRQs
Summarizes IRQ usage, identifies the devices that are using the IRQs, and lists the available IRQs.

Memory
Lists memory address ranges that are in use by devices.

Components
The Components category displays information about your Windows XP system configuration. This includes the status of your device drivers, network components, and multimedia software. There is also a comprehensive driver history, and a summary of devices that may not be working correctly. The following list provides the sub-categories that are included in the Components category.

Multimedia
Lists sound card, and game controller information.

Multimedia – Audio
Lists the audio codecs that are loaded.

Multimedia – Video
Lists the video codecs that are loaded.

Multimedia - CD-ROM
Lists the drive letter and model of your CD-ROM drive. If a data CD-ROM is in the drive, System Information also performs a data transfer test.

Multimedia - Sound Device
Lists the name and manufacturer of your sound device(s). This also lists the status, I/O port, IRQ, DMA channel, and the drivers that are used for your sound device(s).

Display
Lists video card, and monitor information.

Infrared
Lists Infrared device information.

Input
Lists keyboard, and mouse information.

Miscellaneous
Lists information about any miscellaneous components.

Modems
Lists modem information.

Network
Lists network adapter, client, and protocol information. Network protocol information is now presented in much greater detail than in Microsoft Windows 98. The new presentation of network protocols includes much more granular configuration information on the protocol, related to how it operates on the network.

Network – Winsock
Lists Winsock version, description, and status information.

Ports
Lists serial, and parallel port information.

Storage
Lists information about hard disks, floppy drives, removable media, and controllers. Each drive is presented with information including drive letter, total size, free space, file system, compression status, drive type, and volume letter.

Printing
Lists installed printers, and printer drivers.

Problem Devices
Lists devices with problems. Lists each device that is flagged in Device Manager, and displays the corresponding status information.

USB
Lists Universal Serial Bus (USB) controllers, and drivers that are installed.

Software Environment
The Software Environment category displays the software loaded in your computer's memory.

Drivers
Lists the drivers currently loaded into memory.

Environment Variables
Lists the Windows XP global environment variables. The Global Environment Variables formerly in the Autoexec.bat, and Config.sys files are migrated to the registry, and are shown here.

Print Jobs
Shows the printing jobs currently in the print queue.

 

Network Connections
Lists all current network connections.

Running Tasks
Lists the currently running executable files or programs. This provides a comprehensive view of the processes that are running on your computer.

 

Loaded Modules
Lists all modules currently loaded into memory.

 

Program Groups
Lists programs that are in the Start menu group for every user that has a profile on the computer. Lists the group name, the name of the program itself, and the profile to which the program group belongs.

 

Startup Programs
Lists programs started automatically either from the registry, the Startup folder, or the Win.ini file.

 

OLE Registration
Lists Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) file associations that are controlled by the registry and various .ini files
NOTE: Hardware information is not available in Safe mode. While System Information can be run in Safe mode, it is limited to displaying information about system components, and the software environment.

 

Applications
Microsoft Office 2000 adds information to the System Information tool for each program that is installed on your computer. Unlike System Information in Windows 98, complete Office program information is not displayed in Windows XP unless that program is running. Refreshing the view may not completely populate the data. Close System Information, start the program, and then re-open System Information for complete information.

 

Tools Menu
The Tools menu contains links to several tools and control panels: Backup, Network Connections, Hardware Wizard, Disk Cleanup, Net Diagnostics, System Restore, Network Diagnostics, File Signature Verification Tool, DirectX Diagnostics Tool, and Dr. Watson.

Control Panel

Unlike previous Windows versions, XP offers two versions of Control Panel. The version prior to XP is now known as Classic Control Panel while the new, updated XP version is Category Control Panel. As the name Category implies, the individual items from the Classic view have been compartmentalized or categorized into related areas. The graphic below depicts the nine major categories of the new XP Control Panel. Click on any category for related articles, tips, etc., further divided by the Classic Control Panel categories.

Classic View

Fig. 29 Classic View

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pick a Category

Fig. 30 Pick a Category

Appearance and Themes

With this category you can do the following:

 

·       Change the computer’s theme

·       Change the desktop background

·       Choose a screensaver

·       Change the screen resolution

 

Or Pick a Control Panel icon

 

·       Display

·       Folder Options

·       Taskbar and Start Menu

Display Properties are the same as Windows 9x with a few newer options.  The Themes tab contains all the Windows XP Themes. From here you can change back to Classic Windows. Under the Desktop tab, you can change your background, or click customize desktop, to change the icons you want displayed on your desktop. On the Screensaver tab, the old password option is now replaced with the on resume return to the welcome screen.  Appearance contains the Clear Type feature under effects.

Printers and Other Hardware

With this category you can do the following:

·       View installed printers or fax printers

·       Add a printer

·       Or pick a Control Panel icon

·       Game Controllers

·       Keyboard

·       Mouse

·       Phone and Modem Options

·       Printers and Faxes

·       Scanners and Cameras

Network and Internet Connections

With this category you can do the following:

 

·       Set up or change your Internet connection

·       Create a connection to the network at your workplace

·       Set up or change your home or small office network

·       Or pick a Control Panel icon

·       Internet Options

·       Network Connections

From here access the Internet Wizard and enable AutoDial.  Also on the advanced tab on the connections you have the built in firewall feature.  You can also disable the network card from here if the user does not use the built in Network card, in our XP models, by right clicking on the network card and selecting disable.

To access the Firewall, select the icon, click Change Settings of the Connection, and click the Advanced tab.

User Accounts

With this category you can do the following:

 

·       Change an account

·       Create an account

·       Change the way users log on and off

·       Or select an account to change

You can select limited or administrator for the account type.  By setting a password on an administrator account, make that person document folder protected so only that user or under administrators can only view it.  Also you can disable the welcome screen and the fast user switch from this area in the Control Panel.  Also you can change the icon the user sees on the welcome screen from the list or ones they download off the Internet.

Add or Remove Programs

With this category you can do the following:

 

·       Change or Remove Programs

·       Add New Programs

·       Add/Remove Windows Components

Date, Time, Language and Regional Options

With this category you can do the following:

 

·       Change the date and time

·       Change the format of numbers, dates, and times

·       Add other languages

Or pick a Control Panel icon

·       Date and Time

·       Regional and Language Options

Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices

With this category you can do the following:

 

·  Adjust the speaker volume

·  Change the sound scheme

·  Change the speaker settings

·  Or pick a Control Panel icon

·  Sounds and Audio Devices

·  Speech

Note: You can adjust the volume for your audio devices using a shortcut icon on your taskbar. By placing the volume control icon on the taskbar, you don’t have to go into Sounds and Audio Devices in Control Panel each time you want to adjust the volume.

To add the icon, follow these steps:

 

1.     Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2.     Click Sound, Speech, and Audio Devices.

3.     Under Pick a task, click Change the speaker settings.

4.     In the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box, on the Volume tab, select the Place volume icon in the taskbar check box, and then click OK.

Accessibility Options

With this category you can do the following:

 

·       Adjust the contrast for text and colors on your screen

·       Configure Windows to work your vision,

·       Hearing, and mobility needs

·       Or pick a Control Panel icon

·       Accessibility Options

Performance and Maintenance

With this category you can do the following:

 

·       Adjust the visual effects

·       Free up space on your hard drive

·       Back up your data

·       Rearrange items on your hard drive to make

·       Programs run faster

·       Or pick a Control Panel icon

·       Administrative Tools

·       Power Options

·       Scheduled Tasks

·       System Icon

From here your Administrative tools, which contains Disk Management, Event Viewer, Disk Defrag, Disk Cleanup.  Also you can get to System Properties from here.    Scheduled Tasks can also be added to the tasks wizard.  Power options can be set up for Hibernation, sleep and APM if the computer with XP installed doesn’t have ACPI.

3^rd Party CPLs

All 3rd party Control Panel CPLs are kept on the left hand side of the Control Panel window, as other control panel options.  Also 3rd party applications as in Norton Live Update, Real Player and Quick Time.

 

Windows Update

Most web pages are created with Internet Explorer in mind. This means using Internet Explorer can offer excellent multimedia features while viewing web content, and that the browsing experience can be rich. However, since Internet Explorer is the most common browser, it is the target for most destructive programs. Viruses, Spyware, Adware, Trojans, and more are often made specifically to attack Windows machines and Internet Explorer. Most web pages can do no harm, however certain flaws in some areas of Internet Explorer allow certain sites to harm the machine or perform actions against the user’s will. Information can be taken, viruses spread, or the machine could be compromised. Microsoft spends quite a bit of time to fix these flaws and holes in its products, and offers an update system to bring these patches to Windows and Internet Explorer. It is very important for customers to be aware that IE requires constant updates, similar to changing the oil in a car.

A windows update walkthrough should be included with almost any internet issue, with emphasis placed on teaching the customer to update themselves in the future. Have the customer open Internet Explorer, click tools, and choose Windows Updates. This will load the Windows Update site from Microsoft, and may need to install the update software in order to scan for updates. If there is a prompt asking to trust Microsoft, have the customer agree by clicking yes in the relevant dialog box. One at the update site, click to have Windows scanned for updates. When completely scanned, there will generally be several categories of updates available. Critical Updates and Service Packs offer the most important updates and patches for Windows and Internet Explorer. Any important and serious updates, such as those specific to system integrity and security will end up in this category.

Once the updates are selected, click Install and Internet Explorer will download and install all the updates requested. In most circumstances, reboot to complete the install. Windows Updates should be performed often, as new updates come out regularly as new flaws are found and patched.

The Windows Update interface is unique in XP. When visiting Windows Updates in XP, and allowing XP to install the update software, the Updates page will load, and offer different install choices. Express install will install what Windows determines to be the most important and critical updates. Custom install allows Windows to scan for updates, and will report back with the most important recommended. By clicking review other updates, another scan will occur and the updates page will display the rest of the updates available for that version of Windows. Select the updates to install, and click Go to install updates. Follow through with the instructions to install the updates to Windows XP. Generally, a reboot is recommended after the install process is complete.

Note: The user must be the administrator or part of the administrator group to perform some updates.

Uninstalling a Windows XP Update
To uninstall windows update files go to add/remove programs.

Maintenance and General Performance

 

Check Disk and Defrag

Check Disk and Defrag are important utilities that come with Microsoft Windows. They’re designed to enable users to tune up their Windows system and make sure it's running properly. Check Disk performs a check on the customer’s drive to identify and correct certain problems such as cross linked files and damaged file structure as well as physical damage to the drive. Defrag (short for Disk Defragmenter) reorganizes a computer’s files into a contiguous order to help Windows read, access, and save files to the hard drive in a faster and more stable manner.

Check Disk and Defrag are usually located on Windows Start menu under "Programs", "Accessories", and "System Tools". A customer can also access both programs by selecting "My Computer", and then right clicking on the drive they want to tune up.

It is generally best to run these applications in Safe Mode as there are very few applications and processes running in Safe Mode.

Note: One of the main applications that can cause problems with Defrag is AntiVirus. The reason is when running a defrag the system is reading and writing files on the hard drive. The AntiVirus is designed to monitor such events and will cause it to restart the scan from the beginning. From there is tends to get stuck in a loop and continue to restart the process over and over.

 

Running Check Disk

After accessing the System Tools and selecting to run Error Checking you will get a second screen providing choices as to what you want Check Disk to do:

 

 

It is recommended to put a checkmark in each box and click Start. You will then get a message stating Check Disk requires exclusive access to some system files that it cannot get unless the system is restarted. It asks if you want to schedule it to run the next time the computer is started. Say yes and then reboot the system.

Running Defrag

Once you select defrag, have the customer navigate to the drive they want to defrag. Only one drive can be selected at a time in defrag. Advise the customer of the need for running a periodic Defrag to insure system stability and speed. Also let the customer know that the defrag is best performed over a period of time when they are not planning on using their computer as the process can take several hours.

Note: When running a Defrag, communicate to the customer the amount of time it could take to run. If a machine has never been defragged before customers often quit out of the program once they see the progress meter at 1% for an extended period of time, thinking the program has stalled. Defrag is one of the slowest and most thorough operation a computer might perform and patience is required.

 

Disk Clean Up

Disk Clean Up is an essential maintenance step which removes residual and temporary files that can slow down a customer’s machine. These files can be the remnants of previously moved or deleted files, internet files and cache, or come from a wide variety of sources. They are not by nature malicious, and the customer should be made aware they are not “infecting” the computer in any manner, but they do need to be cleaned regularly. In all versions of Windows sine Windows 98 there is a Disk Clean Up Wizard that automates this process. It is located under Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Clean Up.

Once Disk Cleanup finishes calculating the computer’s unwanted temp files the wizard will give the customer the option of cleaning their hard drive, including multiple partitions if applicable. It will show them how much space is being consumed by unneeded temporary Internet files, as well as other temporary files, downloaded program files, and offline web pages, including the Recycle Bin.

Event Viewer

 

Windows XP has a consolidated interface to keep track of program and user activities and the Event Viewer analyzes the activity logs. The Event Viewer is a tool for troubleshooting, and viewing messages (errors, warnings, success) generated by software and operating system components.

The information supplied by Event Viewer, in the Event ID, can be interpreted or used in technical database queries to devise a resolution for the problem generating the event.

Windows XP records events in the following three logs:

 

Application log

The application log contains events logged by programs. For example, a database program may record a file error in the application log. Developers determine which events are written to the application log.

 

Security log

The security log records events such as valid and invalid logon attempts, as well as events related to resource use, such as the creating, opening, or deleting files. For example, when logon auditing is enabled, an event is recorded in the security log each time a user attempts to log on to the computer. You must be logged on as Administrator or as a member of the Administrators group in order to turn on, use, and specify which events are recorded in the security log.

 

System log

The system log contains events logged by Windows XP system components. For example, if a driver fails to load during startup, an event is recorded in the system log. Windows XP predetermines the events that are logged by system components.

Each event in a log can be classified into one of the following types:

 

n       Information describes the successful operation of a task, such as an application, driver, or service. For example, an Information event is logged when a network driver loads successfully.

n       Warning is not necessarily significant, however, may indicate the possible occurrence of a future problem. For example, a Warning message is logged when disk space starts to run low.

n       Error describes a significant problem, such as the failure of a critical task. Error events may involve data loss or loss of functionality. For example, an Error event is logged if a service fails to load during startup.

n       Success Audit (Security log) describes the successful completion of an audited security event. For example, a Success Audit event is logged when a user logs on to the computer.

n       Failure Audit (Security log) describes an audited security event that did not complete successfully. For example, a Failure Audit may be logged when a user cannot access a network drive.

Information logged about the event includes:

n       Date the event occurred.

n       Time the event occurred.

n       User the name of the user logged on when the event occurred.

n       Computer the name of the computer where the event occurred.

n       Event ID the event number identifies the event type. The Event ID can be used help understand what occurred in the system.

n       Source This can be the name of a program, a system component, or an individual component of a large program.

n       Type can be one of the following five types:

w      Error

w      Warning

w      Information

w      Success Audit

w      Failure Audit.

n       Category is a classification of the event by the event source. This is primarily used in the security log.

Compatibility Hardware/Software Webpage for HCL

To locate compatibility software and hardware, in the Help and Support Center menu, click Find compatible hardware and software for Windows XP. 

The Search function makes it easy to locate the whether or not hardware and software is compatible.

Use the Program Compatibility Wizard to resolve the most common compatibility problems between your programs and Windows XP that might occur after an upgrade.

Software Compatibility Wizard and How to Run It

The Windows XP compatibility wizard technologies depend on database files to identify and fix applications that may not otherwise run on Windows XP. (The database files that are used in upgrading from Windows 98, and Windows Millennium on the one hand, or Windows 2000 on the other are MigDB.inf and NTCompat.inf, respectively.)

The database files used for application compatibility after Windows XP is installed are:

n       SysMain.sdb
contains the matching information and compatibility fixes

n       AppHelp.sdb
contains the Help messages that alert users to application compatibility problems that have no current fix

Windows XP includes the Program Compatibility Wizard to assist users in applying compatibility fixes to their own applications through the Help and Support Center.

Experienced users can modify the properties of an executable file using the Compatibility tab in the application’s Properties dialog box to apply compatibility fixes.

 

Note: You can also insert the Windows XP CD and run the compatibility wizard from the auto run screen that comes up.

Safe Mode

 

Safe mode is a diagnostic startup environment that runs only a subset of the drivers and services that are in your system memory.  Use Safe mode when you install software or a device driver that causes instability or problems in when starting normal mode.
Note: Logging on to the computer in safe mode does not update the Last Known Good Configuration.
In safe mode, Windows XP uses the minimum set required to start the graphical user interface (GUI). The following registry subkeys list the drivers and services that start in safe mode:
HKLM\System\Current_Control_Set\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal

To access safe mode

1.     Remove all floppy disks and CDs from your computer, and restart your computer.

2.     Press F8 when prompted.

3.     Using the Windows Advanced Options menu, select Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Last Known Good Configuration

Last Known Good Configuration corrects instability or startup problems by reversing the most recent system and driver changes within a hardware profile. When you use this feature, you lose all configuration changes that were made since you last successfully started your system.

Using the Last Known Good Configuration restores previous drivers and also restores registry settings for the sub key in the file:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet.

When is last known good configuration created?

Last known Good Configuration is created when you successfully start the operating system in normal mode and log on.

When you are troubleshooting, it is recommended that you use Last Known Good Configuration before you try other options, such as safe mode. However, if you decide to use safe mode first, logging on to the computer in safe mode does not update the Last Known Good control set. Therefore, Last Known Good Configuration remains an option if you cannot resolve your problem by using safe mode.

To access the Last Known Good Configuration startup option

 

1.  Remove all floppy disks and CDs from your computer, and restart your computer.

2.  Press F8 when prompted. If it starts without displaying a menu, press F8 after the firmware POST process but before the graphical output display.

3.  On the Windows Advanced Options menu, select Last Known Good Configuration.

When Windows XP Professional starts, it reads status information from the file systemroot\Bootstat.dat.

Device Manager

 

How and when to use the Device manager

No matter what version of Microsoft Windows (except Windows NT) your customers are using, each Operating System consists of a device manager. Device Manager is a Windows feature that lets the end-user view, change, and update the properties of all hardware devices attached internally and externally to the computer.

A normal working computer with all correct drivers installed will not have any exclamation marks, red Xs and/or Other Devices errors. When the end-users indicates that there is an exclamation mark (usually in yellow colors), this is a warning that the device is conflicting with another hardware device. Don’t be alarmed by this indication because updating the device to the latest driver could solve it. If the driver which came with the hardware does not resolve this problem, then direct them to the manufacturer’s website to check for an updated version. In some cases, the company has already released a newer driver. In other cases, the customers may have to contact the manufacturer directly if the problem still persists.

A Red X is most alarming warning. It indicates that the Windows is not able to locate the device driver, that the device has been disabled, or there are no resources allocated to the device. So if the end-user wants to use the specified device, they will not be able to do so until the problem is resolved. There is a possibility that the device may have been disabled and simply needs to be enabled. Right click the device, and choose Enable. If the device is enabled properly, the exclamation mark will disappear and the device would be listed normally in the category it belongs. If the drivers are missing, to resolve this type of issue have the end-user find the driver disk or CD that came with the device.  If a driver disk or CD is not available, then you must obtain the make and model of device and search for an updated driver directly from the manufacturer’s website. Download and use this updated driver to reinstall the drivers of the device.

Lastly, there is an error category in Device Manager called Other Devices.  When the end-users mentions about this category, it simply means that the Operating System was not able to locate the device drivers. Even more troubling in some cases Windows does not recognize what type of device being installed.  When this is the case you may have to walk the end-user to open up the computer case to check for the device’s make and model. Sometimes, you can better search for the drivers with the device’s serial number. Some hint will usually be given in the Other Devices, like PCI Communication Device, or Ethernet Controller, which at least tells you which type of device is causing the problem. Knowing it is a modem or Ethernet card helps to narrow down the devices to be located, since it may be rather difficult to walk a customer through finding this device. Since Windows doesn’t know what card it is the customer may have to manually remove the card to get the modem number in order to find a driver for it. Always have the power unplugged for a customer that is going to move or open a case.

Some manufacturer’s website will allow the end-users to search directly by the hardware serial number, which more convenient because it will bypass all steps involving in search for drivers. Some site will also be able to scan the system online and determine the type and model of the hardware device.

Note: When opening the computer’s case, make sure that the end-users are comfortable doing this. In some cases the end-user will create other problems when attempting to troubleshoot device driver issues. 

 

Fig. 31 From System Properties choose the hardware tab and select Device Manager

 

Common signs of driver conflict

A computer and the hardware may not function if drivers are not installed properly.  There is another factor that may cause the computer or hardware to not function the way they should: driver conflicts.  Driver conflicts can occur even if the customer has loaded the proper driver software, and the hardware components have been working fine for a given period of time.  An example of a driver conflict may be that recently the customer purchased a new webcam, and after installing the webcam’s software, the customer’s scanner does not respond.  This behavior is known as driver conflicts, which cause different drivers installed on your customers’ computer to react erratically.  The problems can be repaired; however, not correcting these conflicts can cause major crashes and unexpected error messages in the future. 

When your customers described the symptoms, be sure to take careful notes because it would certainly save you time in resolving these types of issues.  Signs such as: What was recently installed, any new hardware, software, program updates?

By asking probing questions most customers can usually give you enough information to begin troubleshooting. For example:

The computer used to work before I installed a new device or piece of hardware.  Ask your customers what they have done and try to reverse the processes that they have taken. Maybe the end-user has not followed the step-by-step instructions provided in the manual or instructions accompanying the device. They might have connected the USB hardware device, for instance, before installing the driver first. By reversing the processes that the end-user has taken you can guide them on the right path.

 

After I installed my USB printer, my USB mouse stopped responding.  Again, confirm with the end-user that something used to work in the past has stop working since an installation of a new hardware device. There are a few possible conflicts with this type of symptom. The new device may not be compatible with the operating system. The computer’s specifications might not meet the minimum requirements. This may be especially true for USB problems, due to power issues. USB uses significant power resources from the machine to supply power to all the devices connected. Sometimes when adding that one new device, there may be not enough power available from the power supply of that computer’s case. If each device works individually, but fails when more are added, it could be a lack of power and a new power supply may be necessary. It could also be a conflict of resources, where not enough IRQ resources or other memory addresses may exist and thus not all devices can be assigned proper resources by the operating system to function.

 

I kept getting Find New Hardware window even after I have successfully installed my new hardware driver. If the end-user is getting this message, then they either have not installed the driver and/or software for the hardware device properly or additional drivers might be required. Have the end-users go through the wizard again so you can determine what device might have caused this continuous window to pop-up every time Windows starts. Once the wizard has completed, make sure to ask for any completion or error message. Last, to be sure that the device driver has been completely installed, check Device Manager to see if there is any question mark(s) or exclamation point(s) on any of the devices.

 

Note: It is important that you ask for the make and the model of the device in question. Much of the time, the end-user will not read or follow the step-by-step instructions; therefore, this behavior may not have installed the device driver properly. Some hardware requires different installation processes depending upon the operating systems of the end-users. Lexmark USB printers, for instance, will require end-users to install the printer driver and utilities before connecting the printer to the computer. If end-users connect the printer to the computer before appropriate installation of its printer drivers and software, the printer will not function properly on certain models.

Digitally signed devices

Digitally signed devices are devices tested and sign off from Microsoft. Protection drivers signed will not be over written.

Note: Installing unsigned drivers will cause an unstable system.

Driver resiliency

Driver resiliency—three setting:

 

Warn
Block (not installing that driver)
Ignore (not suggested just ignored the driver)

To Remove a device

Right click and uninstall—scan for hardware changes or little computer magnifying. Some devices require you to reboot and until you reboot it will not install.

 

Fig. 32 Uninstall drivers

 

 

 

To refresh the driver

Once you uninstalled it from Device Manager select Actionàscan for new hardware.

 

Fig. 33 Scan for hardware changes

 

 

Driver Rollback

If you know the specific driver causing the problem, you have the option of using Device Driver Roll Back in safe mode. This might be preferable because Device Driver Roll Back changes are limited to a single device. Also, consider using System Restore because it enables you to revert system registry settings by date.

Fig. 34 Driver Information

How to Roll Back to the Previous Version of a Device Driver

Device Driver Roll Back reinstalls the driver you were using previously and restores any driver settings that were changed when you added the new driver. Note that you cannot restore printer drivers with Device Driver Roll Back.

To roll back a device driver to a previous version:

 

1.     Log on to the computer by using an account with administrative privileges.

2.     Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

3.     Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.

4.     Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click System.

5.     On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.

6.     In the device list, expand the device type branch that you want to work with. For example, Display adapters.

7.     Right-click the device that you want to work with, and then click Properties.

8.     On the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver. Click Yes when you receive the following message: Are you sure you would like to roll back to the previous driver?

9.     The previous device driver is restored. Click Close.

How to burn CDs and Common Issues CDR vs. CDRW

 

Check with the end-user to determine whether or not the CD recorder has worked in the past. Once that is determined, you can better assist them with determining the exact cause of the problem with burning CDs. Sometimes, end-users will not be able to use the recorder if the IDE cable and jumpers are not configured correctly. This will prevent Windows from recognizing the device properly. Go to My Computer and check to ensure that the recorder is there. If not, check the Device Manager under DVD\CDROM Drives to see if the CD recorder is listed and if there are any problems.

If the recorder does not show up, have the end-user restart the computer and enter BIOS setup. Under Basic BIOS setup, the end-user will be able to see the make and the model of the recorder. If the BIOS does not show the recorder device, exit BIOS setup and turn off the computer completely. Unplug the computer’s power cable at this time. The next step is to check all internal connections from the drive to the motherboard. Generally the CD recorder should be connected with a secondary IDE cable and usually set to a master setting if this is the only drive on that secondary IDE cable. This is ideal for a setup that has 1 or 2 hard drives on a primary IDE cable, and 1 CD drive on a secondary IDE. If there are 2 CD drives, have the burner act as master and the other drive set as slave, if possible. They can be switched, as long as the jumpers and cables are correct on ALL drives, to verify the jumper settings refer to the vendor’s web site. Another issue that may arise with burning CDs is with the burning software itself. Make sure it is not a trial version and if so that the trial program has not expired. A trial burning program may not work effectively. Of course expired burning software will not work at all. Also check for updates for the burning software being used. For example, Nero burning software offers updates about once a month. These updates can fix issues with buffer flows, memory issues, drivers, recognizing certain CD driver, different types of blank media, and more. Most reputable burning software manufacturers will offer updates for their software.

The end-user may experience some annoyances with the recording media i.e. CD-R blank disks. CDR is recording media that can be used once, while CD-RW is rewriteable media that can be used hundreds of times. Make sure that the end-user does not overload files that exceed the media limit. If CD-R’s limit is 700 MB, try to load no more than 695 MB on a single media. Some burning software will help end-users compress files if the files exceed the media’s limit by a small amount.

Note: Anything more than 10 MB may prevent a successful burning process.

Note: Have the end-user check for scratches on the recording CD-R media. Even tiny scratches will prevent the recorder from writing files onto the media properly.
Network Wizard

Dial up Access

End users might be calling about problems trying to install their ISP disks or going through the wizard.  The three choices in the wizard:

n       Choose from list (ISPs)

n       Set up my connection manually

n       Use the CD I got from an ISP. 

If you choose to go through the list, this will offer if you want to set up with MSN or it will set up a separate icon for you to log on to with, and get an updated list of ISP in your local area.

If your ISP gave you a CD to install, it’s recommend that you go through the Use the CD I got from an ISP, this will just copy over the settings from the DNS, Gateway and IP information that the ISP requires you input into the system.

If you decide to set up the connection manually, the end user will be required to get all information required from the ISP.

Dial-up Connection Wizard Walkthrough

 

1.     Click Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections, and then the Network Connections icon.

2.     Click Create a new connection under Network tasks to start the New Connection Wizard.

3.     The first screen of the wizard, Welcome to the New Connection Wizard, is an introductory one. Click Next.

4.     The Network Connection Type screen allows for selection of the type of network connection that you would like to make. Click Next.

5.     On the Getting Ready screen, the choices are Choose from a list of Internet service providers (ISPs), Set up my connection manually, and Have the CD I got from an ISP click Next.

6.     On the Internet Connection screen, the choices are Connect using a dial-up modem, Connect using a broadband connection that requires a user name and password, and Connect using a broadband connection that is always on. Click Next.

7.     On the Connection Name screen, we type in the ISP’s name, click Next.

8.     On the Phone to Dial screen, we type in the phone number provided by the ISP, and click Next.

9.     On the Internet Account Information screen, we type in a username and password, and then confirm the password by typing it in again. There are several other options on this screen also – use this account name and password for all users of this computer, make this the default connection, and enable the firewall. These are all on by default. Click Next. On the Completing the New Connection Wizard screen, we are provided a summary of the choices made. Click Finish. We are immediately prompted to connect

DSL/Cable high speed connection

To setup DSL or a Cable connection, use the same wizard as the dialup connections. The only difference is select to set up my connection manually.  This will offer you 2 selections related with DSL and Cable.  From here you can either select if your required to use a username and password to login to your broadband or if you do not require this information.  Some cable internet providers also require the end user to have the correct computer name to know who they are online, instead of using a user name and password.  Most Cable and DSL Internet providers support DHCP, but if they don’t then it’s the user’s preference to contact their ISP to get their settings, so they can input them in the networking adapter they just set up.

 

Additional Network Issues

 

Red X
In regards to a possible network icon with a red X in their notification area.  The easiest way to remove this icon from the notification area is to go to network options and to right click on the network card, and selecting disable.  This will disable the card, but will also remove the icon they don’t want to see all the time.

 

Firewall
Also keep in mind the firewall, which is build in Windows XP, is turned on by default when you build a new connection.  If a user calls not being able to view secure WebPages, they you must go to the properties of the connection, to the advanced tab.  This is where you find the firewall; just remove the checkmark will remove the firewall for that connection.

 

Internet Explorer 6
If Internet Explorer becomes corrupted, and needs to be repair to repair it by using the following.  Get the user to get to a Command prompt (cmd.exe) and from there use the SFC /SCANNOW which will scan the files in your Windows directory and fix any that night be damaged or corrupted.

 

AutoDial
By default the enable AutoDial is enabled for the dialup connection.  To disable it, go to the Network Connections window, and click on Advanced and click dialup networking settings.  Then remove the checkmark for Enable Autodial on the end users dialup connection.

 

How to configure a LAN or high-speed connection
Follow these seven steps to configure a LAN or high-speed connection:

1.     Click Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections, and then the Network Connections icon.

2.     Right click the LAN or high-speed Internet connection icon and select Properties. Notice that there are three tabs on the properties dialog: General, Authentication, and Advanced

3.     Select the General tab. On this tab, we can configure our network adapter driver and the items that the connection uses. The most common items are the Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and the Internet Protocol.

4.     Highlighting them and clicking Properties can separately configure each of these. Select Internet Protocol and then click Properties to view the dialog box that appears for configuring the Internet Protocol properties. Click Cancel to return to the General tab.

5.     Notice that we can install other items by clicking the Install button. We can also remove items in this list by selecting the item and then clicking the Uninstall button. Select Internet Protocol. Notice that the Uninstall button is not available. In Windows XP, the Internet Protocol cannot be uninstalled. It can be disabled, however, by de-selecting the box next to it in the list.

6.     Select the Authentication tab. Notice that on this tab we can choose options for how to be authenticated on the network, including the Extensible Authentication Protocol to be used. Additionally, there are options on how to authenticate when connecting over the network.

7.     Select the Advanced tab. Notice that we have the option to enable the Internet Connection Firewall, and if there is more than one connection, we have the option to enable/disable Internet Connection Sharing.

Firewalls

A firewall is a security for you personal computer or network and the outside world. The firewall sets restrictions on what information leaves your home and what information comes in.

You should not enable a Firewall that does not directly connect to the Internet. Only install the firewall on the machine that is directly connected to the Internet.

Note: Do not use Wingate or Norton Firewall with the Window’s XP firewall.

 

Fig. 35 Internet Firewall

 

Steps to set up a Firewall

Click Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections, and then Network Connections.
Right click on the connection icon and select Properties. Select the Advanced tab.
To enable Personal Firewall, check Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet.

Windows XP Startup Menu

This menu can be accessed utilizing a couple of different methods.

Method 1 – Immediately after restarting the computer press the F8 function key repeatedly until you see the start up menu as shown in Fig. 36 (If you receive a 301 keyboard error message you have hit the F8 function key to early press any key to continue and continue pressing the F8 function key)

 

Fig.36 Advanced Options Menu

 

Method 2 – While the system is booting simply turn the power off, this will advice you that your system did not successfully load see Fig. 37.

 

Fig. 37 Incomplete boot

 

Windows Advanced option menu

 

Safe Mode – Choosing this option will bring us to Safe Mode without network connectivity. (You need to be the admin to gain access)

Safe Mode with Networking – Choosing this option will bring us to Safe Mode with network connectivity. (You need to be the admin to gain access)

Safe Mode with Command Prompt – This option will bring you to a command prompt only, similar to choosing safe mode command prompt only in other Operating Systems. (You need to be the admin to gain access)

Enable Boot Logging – Starts while logging all the drivers and services that were loaded (or not loaded) by the system to a file. This file is called ntbtlog.txt and it is located in the %windir% directory. Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt add to the boot log a list of all the drivers and services that are loaded. The boot log is useful in determining the exact cause of system startup problems.

Enable VGA mode – Starts using the basic VGA driver. This mode is useful when you have installed a new driver for your video card that is causing Windows not to start properly. The basic video driver is always used when you start in Safe Mode (either Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode with Command Prompt).

 

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked) - The Last Known Good Configuration feature is a recovery option that you can use to start your computer by using the most recent settings that worked. The Last Known Good Configuration feature restores registry information and driver settings that were in effect the last time the computer started successfully. Use the Last Known Good Configuration feature when you are unable to start Windows XP after you make a change to your computer, or when you suspect that a change that you just made may cause a problem.

Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only) - This is for the server operating systems and is only used in restoring the SYSVOL directory and the Active Directory directory service on a domain controller.

Debugging Mode - Starts while sending debug information through a serial cable to another computer.

Start Windows Normally – The normal Windows boot process is followed.

Reboot – Restarts the computer.

Return to OS Choices Menu – IF more than 1 OS is installed

 

Help and Support Center

 

Accessing Help and Support Center

The three most common ways to access Help and Support Center are from the Start menu, keyboard hotkey <Window+ F1> and from the System Search

 

 

HELP AND SUPPORT Interface

The help and support center user interface is divided into six major areas.  These areas are the global navigation bar, search, pick a help topic, ask for assistance, pick a task and did you know.

 

Fig. 38 help and Support Console

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Navigation Bar

The global navigation bar in the help and support center is located at the top portion of the screen.  The first three buttons:  back, forward and home are navigation buttons and take you to specific content, much like the Internet Explorer navigation bar.  Index allows you to search for particular content.  Favorites bookmark specific content you’re in to return quickly.  History shows you different items that you’ve visited.  Support takes you to an area to request assistance from Microsoft on particular areas of problems or troubleshooting.  And last the option allows you to set search options.

Fig. 39 The global navigation bar in the Windows XP Help and Support Center

 

Setting search options

For best results in searching for information setup your “Set search options” for the most accurate results.

Fig.40 Search Bar

Fig.41 Search Options

PICK A HELP TOPIC

The pick a help topic in Microsoft Windows XP help and support center interface divides common user tasks into four areas.  The user area has information like what’s new in Windows XP and Windows basics.  The networking area has tasks such as networking in the web and working remotely.  The customizing section provides information on how to customize your computer and accessibility features.  The last area, the system area, has information on printing and faxing, fixing a problem, and performance and maintenance.  Dividing these topics into four areas allows users to find common situations that they may need help on when working with Windows XP.

 

Fig. 42 The pick a help topic in Microsoft Windows XP Help and Support Center

 

Windows Update

Keep your computer up-to-date with Windows Update

Find compatible hardware and software for Windows XP

Undo changes to your computer with System Restore

Use Tools to view you computer information and diagnose problems

 

 

 

 

 

PICK A TASK

Pick a Task contains 4 items in help and support.  The first allows users to connect to the Windows update website to download current versions of software for their system.  The second points them to the compatibility hardware and software list for Windows XP.  The third is to undo system changes with the system restore feature, which we cover later.  System restore allows you to rollback system changes to undo application or driver installations and may render your system unstable.  The last is tools to allow you to create or perform administrative tasks and diagnose problems on your system.

 

Fig. 41 The pick a task area contains four items in the Help and Support Center

 

Windows XP Service Pack 2

 

Introduction

Microsoft web sites for Service Pack 2:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.aspx

 

Windows XP SP2 Support Center

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?&pr=windowsxpsp2

 

          About once a year, Microsoft releases an update to Windows XP. These updates contain all the fixes and enhancements which have been made available in the previous year. The updates (called Service Packs) provide convenient, all-in-one access to the most up-to-date drivers, tools, security updates, patches, and customer-requested product changes.

          The latest Service Pack for Windows XP is all about security, and it’s one of the most important service packs ever released. It provides better protection against viruses, hackers, worms, and includes upgrades to Windows Firewall and Automatic Updates, a Pop-up Blocker for Internet Explorer, a Spam blocker for Outlook Express and finally the new Windows Security Center.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) provides better protection against viruses, hackers, and worms, and includes Windows Firewall, Pop-up Blocker for Internet Explorer, and the new Windows Security Center.

 

Installing SP2

Learn About SP2

Find out the top reasons to install, see features at a glance, and read the SP2 overviews. Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies helps you protect your PC against viruses, hackers, and worms. Learn about the benefits of Windows XP SP2 here.

 

What to Know Before Downloading and Installing

Learn the steps you need to take before installing SP2.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/xpsp2getinstall

 

Detailed step by step instructions for installing SP2 can be found here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875364

 

How to use the Automatic Recovery feature to recover your computer or your Tablet PC if the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup program is not completed successfully: 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875355

 

Follow these steps before installing Windows XP SP2 to prevent potential conflicts with other software on your computer: 

• Back up your critical information.
• Check your computer for spyware and other unwanted software.
• Check for special update instructions from your computer's manufacturer.

 

Once you have completed the above steps, you can download this and all future critical updates automatically by turning on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP.

Turn on Automatic Updates for me.

 

Automatic Updates Tab in System Properties

 

Or, if you prefer, use our step-by-step instructions. You can also download Windows XP SP2 from Windows Update. If you cannot use Automatic Updates or download Windows XP SP2 via Windows Update, order a CD.

 

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Information

With Windows XP SP2, you get safer browsing and communication, powerful security tools, and improved experiences.

 

Troubleshooting SP2 Installation

 

Your computer stops responding when you restart after you install Windows XP SP2

This article discusses how to resolve an issue where your computer stops responding (hangs) when you restart to complete the installation of Windows XP SP 2. This issue occurs on a limited number of systems that use a version of basic input/output system (BIOS) that does not have production support for Intel Pentium 4 and Intel Celeron D processors based on the Prescott C-0 stepping.

 

You receive a "Stop: c0000135" and "winsrv was not found" error message after you install Windows XP SP2

This article discusses how to resolve an issue where, after installing Windows XP SP2, you receive a "Stop: c0000135" and "winsrv was not found" error message and your computer repeatedly restarts.

 

Device drivers known to cause instability in SP2 are blocked during installation

SP2 contains a Driver Protection feature that helps protect operating system stability by preventing the operating system from loading drivers that are known to cause stability problems.

 

Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP SP2

After you install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), some programs may seem not to work. By default, Windows Firewall is enabled and blocks unsolicited connections to your computer. This article discusses how to make an exception and enable a program to run by adding it to the list of exceptions. This procedure permits the program to work as it did before the service pack was installed.

 

"The product key used to install Microsoft Windows may not be valid" error message when installing Windows XP Service Pack 2

This article describes the steps you should take if you receive this error message when you try to install SP2.

 

"Access is denied" error message when you try to install SP2

This article describes methods to workaround the "Access is denied" error message when you try to install SP2.

 

More Troubleshooting issues...

This link contains more usefully troubleshooting articles.
New Features

Learn to use the new features of SP2 and get help if you need it.

 

Windows Security Center

          Manage your computer's security settings in one place. Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) contains a collection of new technologies designed to help keep your PC and your personal information more secure. SP2 also makes it easier to monitor these settings with the new Windows Security Center, available through the Control Panel.

          The Security Center lets you check the status of your essential security settings. You can also use it to find information about the latest virus or other security threat or to get customer support from Microsoft for a security-related issue.

 

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Security Center

Pop Up Blocker

          Block pop-up windows with Internet Explorer. Many legitimate advertisers on the Internet use windows that pop up in the middle of your screen to display a message. They might also open when you click a link or button on a Web site, and they might open either over or under the window you wish to view. Some pop-ups are helpful. For example, if you click an image to see a larger version, it might open in a pop-up window. Unfortunately, some pop-up windows can contain inappropriate content or can be a way for you to accidentally download dangerous software (called spyware or adware) onto your computer.

          With Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) Internet Explorer allows you to prevent most pop-up windows from appearing over pages you want to view while you're using the Internet.

 

Internet Explorer Pop-up Blocker (feature of Service Pack 2)

 

New Windows Firewall

          Learn the basics about the new Windows Firewall, plus find out how to adjust your firewall settings if you need to. Windows Firewall, previously known as Internet Connection Firewall or ICF, is a protective boundary that monitors and restricts information that travels between your computer and a network or the Internet. This provides a line of defense against someone who might try to access your computer from outside the Windows Firewall without your permission.

          If you're running Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows Firewall is turned on by default. However, some computer manufacturers and network administrators might turn it off.

 

Windows Firewall – General Tab

 

Windows Firewall – Exceptions Tab

 

Windows Firewall – Advanced Tab

 

How to use the Security Alert dialog box when it appears on your screen

When a program tries to use one or more of the resources or the ports on your system that are covered by the firewall, a Security Alert dialog box appears. This article describes the Security Alert dialog box options available to you.

 

Control Internet Explorer Add-ons with Add-on Manager Control Internet Explorer Add-ons with Add-on Manager Control Internet Explorer Add-ons with Add-on Manager

Add-ons are typically fine to use, but sometimes they slow down your computer or force Internet Explorer to shut down unexpectedly. This can happen if the add-on was poorly built or created for an earlier version of Internet Explorer. SP2 you can use the new Internet Explorer Add-on Manager to help make the add-ons that you do want function properly and to easily get rid of the ones you don't want.

Device Manager is also located elsewhere, however, it is on the same tab.

The Device Manager Button is now located in its own is now located in its own Grouping Box but is still on the Hardware tab.  Windows Update is now located where the Device Manager Button used to be.

 

More How to Articles for SP2

These articles show how to use the new features of SP2. Things such as:

 

• What to Know Before You Download and Install
• Manage Your Computer's Security Settings in One Place
• Understanding Windows Firewall
• Use the Internet Explorer Information Bar
• Block Pop-up Windows with Internet Explorer
• Control Internet Explorer Add-ons with Add-on Manager
• Use the New Security Features in Outlook Express
• Improve Your Home Network Security
• Making File and Printer Sharing Safer in Windows XP SP2
• Disabling Antivirus Alerts
• Disabling Firewall Alerts
• Disabling Security Center Alerts

 

 

Videos, How to Topics, and More

Walk through important Windows XP SP2 settings and how to manage them with these 5-minutes-or-less videos. Get more information and step-by-step directions for configuring and setting up SP2 with these frequently-requested articles.

 

Video: How to configure Internet Explorer Pop-up Blocker

This short video walks you through configuring the Internet Explorer Pop-up Blocker.

 

Video: Using Outlook Express to fight SPAM

Video: How to use new security features in Outlook Express to help block SPAM This short video describes how to configure Outlook Express to help block unwanted junk mail.

 

Video: How to use the Windows Security Center to help protect your computer and keep it updated

This short video walks you through configuring the new Windows Security Center feature in Windows XP SP2.

 

More Videos, how to topics, and more...

 

 

 

 

 

Windows XP Recovery Console

 

If your Microsoft Windows XP-based computer does not start correctly or if it does not start at all, you can use the Windows Recovery Console to help you recover your system software. This article discusses the following topics:

 

• How to start the Windows Recovery Console.
• How to use the Command Console.
• Restrictions and limitations of the Windows Recovery Console.
• The commands that are available in the Windows Recovery Console.

 

When you use the Windows Recovery Console, you can obtain limited access to the NTFS file system, FAT, and FAT32 volumes without starting the Windows graphical user interface (GUI). In the Windows Recovery Console, you can:

 

• Use, copy, rename, or replace operating system files and folders.
• Enable or disable service or device startup the next time that start your computer.
• Repair the file system boot sector or the Master Boot Record (MBR).
• Create and format partitions on drives.

 

Note: Only an administrator can obtain access to the Windows Recovery Console so that unauthorized users cannot use any NTFS volume.

 

How to Install the Recovery Console

You can install the Recovery Console on your computer to make it available if you cannot restart Windows. You can then select the Recovery Console option from the list of available operating systems during startup. Install the Recovery Console on important servers and on the workstations of IT personnel. This article describes how to install the Recovery Console to your Microsoft Windows XP-based computer. To install the Recovery Console, you must be logged on as an administrator.

 

Although you can run the Recovery Console by starting directly from the Windows XP CD, it is generally more convenient to set it up as a startup option on your startup menu.

 

To install the Recovery Console, follow these steps:

 

• Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive.
• Click Start, and then click Run.
• In the Open box, type d:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons where d is the drive letter for the CD-ROM drive.
• A Windows Setup Dialog Box appears. The Windows Setup Dialog Box describes the Recovery Console option. To confirm the installation, click Yes.
• Restart the computer. The next time that you start your computer, "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" appears on the startup menu.

 

To start the Windows Recovery Console, use one of the following methods:

 

• Use the Windows Setup floppy disks or the Windows CD-ROM to start your computer. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press F10 or press 'R" to repair.
• Use the Winnt32.exe utility with the /cmdcons option to add the Windows Recovery Console to the Windows Startup folder. This procedure requires approximately 7 megabytes (MB) of hard disk space on the system partition to hold the Cmdcons folder and files.

 

Using the Command Console

After you start the Windows Recovery Console, you receive the following message:

 

Microsoft Windows(R) Recovery Console

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.

Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

 

1: C:\WINDOWS

 

Which Windows Installation would you like to log on to

(To cancel, press ENTER)?

 

After you enter the number for the appropriate Windows installation, Windows will then prompt you to enter the Administrator account password.

Note: If you use an incorrect password three times, the Windows Recovery Console quits. Also, if the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database is missing or damaged, you cannot use the Windows Recovery Console because you cannot have correct authentication. After you enter your password and the Windows Recovery Console starts, type exit to restart the computer.

 

When you use Windows XP Professional, you can set group policies to enable automatic administrative logon. For additional information about how to set Recovery Console to enable automatic administrative logon, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

312149 How to enable an administrator to log on automatically in Recovery Console.

 

Restrictions and limitations of the Recovery Console

When you use the Windows Recovery Console, you can use only the following items:

 

• The root folder
• The %SystemRoot% folder and the subfolders of the Windows installation that you are currently logged on to
• The Cmdcons folder
• The removable media drives such as the CD-ROM drive or the DVD-ROM drive

 

Note: If you try to obtain access to other folders, you may receive an "Access Denied" error message. Also, when you are using the Windows Recovery Console, you cannot copy a file from the local hard disk to a floppy disk. However, you can copy a file from a floppy disk or from a CD-ROM to a hard disk, and you can copy a file from one hard disk to another hard disk.

 

Administrative Password

When accessing the Windows Recovery Console you are prompted for the Administrative account. The console should work with any administrative account. If the customer does not know the Administrative account password they can type in the name of their personal account (as long as it is an administrator account) and the correct password for that account.

 

Available Commands

For a further break down of the available commands and switches please see Microsoft article 307654.

The following is a list of commands that can be used in the Recovery Console:

 

attrib: Use the attrib command with one or more of the following parameters to change the attributes of a file or a folder: -R +R -S +S -H +H -C +C

 

batch: Use this command to run commands that are specified in a text file.

 

bootcfg: Use this command for boot configuration and recovery.

 

cd: Use the command to change to a different folder.

 

chdir: Same as the cd command. The chdir command works only in the system folders of the current installation of Windows, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

 

chkdsk: The command checks the specified drive and repairs or recovers the drive if the drive requires it.  The command also marks any bad sectors and it recovers readable information.

 

cls: Use this command to clear the screen.

 

copy: Use this command to copy a file.

 

del: Use this command to delete a file.

 

delete: Same as the del command. The delete command works only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources. The delete command does not accept wildcard characters.

 

dir: Use this command to display a list of files and subfolders in a folder.

 

disable: Use this command to disable a Windows system service or driver.

 

diskpart: Use this command to manage the partitions on your hard disk volumes.

 

enable: You can use the command to enable a Windows system service or driver.

 

exit: Use the command to quit the Recovery Console and restart your computer.

 

expand: Use this command to expand/extract a file.

 

fixboot: Use this command to write the new Windows boot sector code on the system partition.

 

fixmbr: Use this command to repair the MBR of the boot partition.

 

format: Use this command to format the specified drive to the specified file system.

 

help: Use this command to get help with the Windows Recovery Console.

 

listsvc: The command lists all available services, drivers, and their start types for the current Windows installation.

 

logon: The command lists all detected installations of Windows and then requests the local administrator password for the copy of Windows that you want to log on to.

 

map: Use this command to list drive letters, file system types, partition sizes, and mappings to physical devices.

 

md: Use this command to create new folders. Wildcard characters are not supported.

 

more: Use this command to display a text file to the screen.

 

mkdir: Use this command to create new folders. Wildcard characters are not supported. The mkdir command works only in the system folders of the current installation of Windows, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

 

rd: Use this command to delete a folder. This command works only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

 

ren: Use this command to rename a file. You cannot specify a new drive or path for the renamed file. These commands work only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

 

rename: Use this command to rename a file. You cannot specify a new drive or path for the renamed file. These commands work only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

 

rmdir: Use this command to delete a folder. This command works only in the system folders of the current Windows installation, in removable media, in the root folder of any hard disk partition, or in the local installation sources.

 

set: You can use the set to display or modify four environment options. For additional information about how to use the set command, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 235364 Description of the SET command in the Recovery Console

 

systemroot: This command sets the current working folder to the %SystemRoot% folder of the Windows installation that you are currently logged on to.

 

type: Use this command to display a text file.

 

Troubleshooting Windows XP Using the Recovery Console

 

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

These steps describe how to recover a Windows XP system that does not start because of corruption in the registry. This procedure does not guarantee full recovery of the system to a previous state; however, you should be able to recover data when you use this procedure.

Note: The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. Microsoft sates that if you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives. Please make sure the customer is aware of this possibility before proceeding.

 

When you try to start or restart your Windows XP-based computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:

 

• Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
• Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE
• Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate

 

The procedure that this article describes uses Recovery Console and System Restore. This article also lists all the required steps in specific order to make sure that the process is fully completed. When you finish this procedure, the system returns to a state very close to the state before the problem occurred. If you have ever run NTBackup and completed a system state backup, you do not have to follow the procedures in parts two and three. You can go to part four.

Note: Due the long length of this article please review the rest of it on Microsoft’s Knowledge Base. The article is 307545.

 

How to start the Windows XP uninstallation process from a command prompt

These steps describe how to start the Windows XP uninstallation process when you are unable to start your Windows XP-based computer typically or in Safe mode.  

Windows XP includes the Uninstall Windows XP option in the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel if you upgraded from Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me). You can use this option to restore your previous version of Windows. To uninstall Windows XP when you are unable to start your Windows XP-based computer typically or in Safe mode, manually start the uninstallation process:

 

• Start your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Note: You must log on as an administrator or a user that has administrator rights.
• At the command prompt, type cd\, and then press ENTER.
• Type cd\windows\system32, and then press ENTER.
• Type osuninst.exe, and then press ENTER.
• Follow the instructions on the screen to begin uninstalling Windows XP from your computer to restore the previous operating system.

 

 

Features and Benefits

Windows XP Professional gives you all the benefits of Windows XP Home Edition, plus additional remote access, security, performance, manageability and multi-lingual features that make it the operating system of choice for businesses of all sizes and people who demand the most out of their computing experience.

Key:  = Feature included   = Feature not included

Features	Windows XP Home Edition	Windows XP Professional
All the features of Windows XP Home Edition
§                  New user interface - makes it easy to find what you need when you need it. §                  A reliable foundation you can count on – keeps your computer up and running when you need it most. §                  Windows Media Player for Windows XP - single place for finding, playing, organizing, & storing digital media. §                  Network Setup Wizard - easily connect & share the computers and devices in your home. §                  Windows Messenger – the ultimate communications & collaboration tool with instant messaging, voice and video conferencing, and application sharing. §                  Help & Support Center - easy to recover from problems and get help and support when you need it.
Premier mobile support, providing access to information while you're on the go
Advanced laptop support (incl. ClearType support, DualView, power management improvements) - so you get as much work done while you are on the road as while you are in the office.
Wireless connections - automatic 802.1x wireless network configuration.
Remote Desktop – remotely access your Windows XP Professional PC, from another Windows PC, so you can work with all of your data and applications while away from your office.
Offline Files and Folders - access to files & folders on a network share when disconnected from the server.
Highly responsive with the power to work on multiple tasks at once
Fast start-up & power management improvements - faster boot and resume times.
Multitasking - allow multiple applications to run simultaneously.
Scalable processor support – up to two-way multi-processor support.
Keeps your data secure and maintains your privacy
Internet Connection Firewall - automatically shields your PC from unauthorized access when you're on the Internet.
Internet Explorer 6 privacy support - maintain control over your personal information when visiting Web sites.
Encrypting File System - protects sensitive data in files that are stored on disk using the NTFS file system.
Access Control – restrict access to selected files, applications, and other resources.
Designed to work with Microsoft Windows Servers and management solutions
Centralized administration - join Windows XP Professional systems to a Windows Server domain to take advantage of the full range of powerful management and security tools.
Group Policy - simplifies the administration of groups of users or computers.
Software Installation and Maintenance – automatically install, configure, repair, or remove software applications.
Roaming User Profiles - access to all your documents and settings no matter where you log on.
Remote Installation Service (RIS) – support for remote operating system installations where desktops can be installed across the network.
Communicate efficiently with others around the world
Single Worldwide Binary - enter text in any language and run any language version of Win32 applications on any language version of Windows XP.
Multi-lingual User Interface (MUI) add-on - change the user interface language to get localized dialog boxes, menus, help files, dictionaries, and proofing tools etc.