Tips

Sometimes when you install third party software, it may overwrite important operating system files. This can cause instability - or worse. Windows XP includes a command line tool that you can use if you think this may have happened (for example, if you get a message box warning that there is a problem with a .dll or the system just seems unstable). Here's how to use it:

1. Click Start | Run.
2. In the Run box, type: sfc /scannow Windows will scan all protected Windows files to verify that they are intact and in their original versions. If they're not, corrupt, missing or incorrect files are replaced. You may be prompted to insert your Windows XP installation CD if your Dllcache folder (where Windows keeps a copy of essential system files) has become corrupt or has been deleted.
   
   

vista tips

Microsoft Windows Vista is a major upgrade to the Windows operating system and is both an evolutionary and revolutionary step forward in the progression of the Windows platform. Vista achieves greater levels of security, reliability, and performance than any previous Windows Operating system.

The most visible change in Vista is its new graphical user interface (GUI). Windows Vista's new GUI allows for seamless integration of 2D and 3D vector graphics, images, animations, and video while maintaining the snappy performance Windows users expect. On systems that have older or integrated graphics, Windows Vista will scale back to graphical levels comparable to that experienced on Windows XP or Windows 2000 while maintaining glitch-free performance.

Windows Vista offers many other enhancements and conveniences. New visualization, organization, and search technologies let users view documents without first opening an associated application, organize information in a way that makes the most sense to them, and quickly find the information they need. Spellchecking and enhanced speech recognition are integral parts of the user interface. Real-time communications services like conferencing, application sharing, peer-to-peer, and remote desktop have been enhanced to make it easier to connect to your computer or to friends' computers remotely and have a richer experience doing so.

How to use the System File Checker (SFC)(Tips)

Sometimes when you install third party software, it may overwrite important operating system files. This can cause instability - or worse. Windows XP includes a command line tool that you can use if you think this may have happened (for example, if you get a message box warning that there is a problem with a .dll or the system just seems unstable). Here's how to use it:

1. Click Start | Run.
2. In the Run box, type: sfc /scannow Windows will scan all protected Windows files to verify that they are intact and in their original versions. If they're not, corrupt, missing or incorrect files are replaced. You may be prompted to insert your Windows XP installation CD if your Dllcache folder (where Windows keeps a copy of essential system files) has become corrupt or has been deleted.
   
   

How to Customize the Start Menu(Tips)

Is the XP Start menu too "busy" for you? Don't use Outlook Express and want to remove it from its top left "pinned" position on the Start menu, or even better, replace it with the email program you do use? Want to get rid of the links to My Documents and/or other folders on the right side? Want a permanent link to the Administrative Tools on the Start menu? Luckily, you can easily customize it to fit your own needs and preferences. Here's how:

1. Click an empty space on the Start menu and click Properties.
2. Click the General tab.
3. Here you can select whether to include your Web browser and/or e-mail client on the Start menu, and even better, which program to use for each.
4. Click the Advanced tab.
5. Under Start Menu Items, you can select which items to display on the right side of the Start menu, and you can also control how each is displayed. For instance, you can choose to display Control Panel as a menu instead of just a link.
6. On this tab, you can also select whether you want newly installed programs to be highlighted, whether submenus should be opened when you pause on them with your mouse (a feature that can be very annoying), and whether to list your most recently opened documents.

Stop the Desktop Cleanup Wizard from Popping Up(Tips)

By default, every 60 days the XP Desktop Cleanup Wizard pops up and offers to clean up your desktop. What if you like your cluttered, messy desktop? Here's how to make the Wizard leave you alone:

Right click an empty space on the desktop.
Click Properties.
Click the Desktop tab.
Click the Customize Desktop button.
Uncheck the box labeled Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard

Open XP Utilities from the Command Line(Tips)

Are you the command line sort? Would you prefer to type program names into the Run box instead of clicking through menus? Hey, it takes all kinds. Here are the commands to open some of XP's commonly used utilities from the command line:

• Computer Management: compmgmt.msc
• Device Manager: devmgmt.msc
• Disk Defragmenter: dfrg.msc
• Event Viewer: eventvwr.msc
• Local users and groups: lusrmgr.msc
• Local security settings: secpol.msc

Built-in Backup(Tips)

If you're using Windows XP Professional an easy backup solution is just a few clicks away. The built-in Backup utility lets you make copies of files, settings, or everything on your computer. To use the Backup utility:

• Click Start
• Point to All Programs
• Point to Accessories
• Point to System Tools
• Point to Backup

If you use Windows XP Home Edition, you'll have to manually add the Backup utility. To add the utility to Windows XP Home Edition:

1. Insert your Windows XP CD into the drive and, if necessary, double-click the CD icon in My Computer.

2. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen, click Perform Additional Tasks.

3. Click Browse this CD.

4. In Windows Explorer, double-click the ValueAdd folder, then Msft, and then Ntbackup.

5. Double-click Ntbackup.msi to install the Backup utility.

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