PC Help Tips - Windows 9x - XP - Vista
Quick find box
Windows XP
Identify computer's processor type, speed, memory, version of Windows
Right Click My Computer > Click Properties > View General tab
or
Click Start > Control Panel > System > View General tab
Windows Task Manager
Ctrl + Alt + Del will open the Windows Task Manager
Processes tab shows information about the processes running on your computer
The Performance tab displays CPU and memory usage
Scan Disk for bad sectors
Click:
Start > My Computer > Right Click "Local Disk (C:)" > Properties > Tools > Check Now
You will have to restart the computer to run the scan.
Virtual Memory
Click Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Change
StartUp
To see programs or files loaded at Startup:
System Configuration Utility:
Click Start > Run > Type "msconfig" > OK > Startup
Hardware - Check and update Drivers
On Desktop Screen
Right Click My Computer > Properties > Hardwre > Device Manager > Double-click a device >
Check to see "This device is working properly."
Click Driver tab > Update Driver
Restart
Ctrl + Alt + Del
repeat to restart
On Windows XP, Ctrl + Alt + Del will open the Windows Task Manager
Scan Disk
Click:
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scan Disk
On Windows XP
Run the scan when you first start up your computer or you will have to restart the computer to run the scan.
Start > My Computer>
On the mouse, right-click the local disk you want to check, for example Local Disk (C:). Click Properties.
or
Select the local disk you want to check, for example Local Disk (C:)
On the File menu
Click Properties.
Click the Tools tab, under Error-checking, click Check Now.
Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.
Disk Defragmenter
Click:
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter
Defrag Error Message: ID No:DEFRAG00205
Symptoms
When you run the Disk Defragmenter tool in Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:
Error Defragmenting Drive C
Windows cannot finish defragmenting this drive because it has encountered a problem.
Click Help and carry out the instructions for running Scan Disk, and then try defragmenting again.
ID No:DEFRAG00205
Cause
A file in the hidden C:\Windows\Applog folder is damaged.
Resolution
1. Right-click an empty area on the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Web tab, click Folder Options.
3. Click Yes.
4. On the View tab under Hidden files, click Show all files, and then click OK.
5. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
6. In the Named box, type applog, click C: in the Look in box, click to select the Include subfolders check box, and then click Find Now.
7. Double-click the Applog folder to open it.
8. On the Edit menu, click Select all.
9. On the File menu, click Delete, and then click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
10. Empty the Recycle Bin.
Close Program dialog box
What is loaded at Startup?
Ctrl + Alt + Del (only once)
You can close an items on the list by clicking it and then click the
End Task button.
Do not close Explorer or Systray
Signature Outlook Express
Tool > Options > Signatures
Use http:// in your url so that the web address comes through as a link.
Bookmarks - Favorites Internet Exporer
Rename - Click Favorite menu or button
Place mouse pointer over name you want to change
Click right mouse button
Click Rename
Type new name then press enter
Change url - Click Favorite menu or button
Place mouse pointer over name you want to change
Click right mouse button
Click Properties
Type new url then press enter
Organize Favorites
Ctrl + B
Fatal Exception 0E Errors list
Write down all of the Fatal Exception Error message, then goto:
Fatal Exception 0E Errors
Fatal exception 0E at 0028:C001545A and blue screen -
This might be caused by a conflict with On-Line Clinic version of McAfee anti-virus
Fix
1. Start System Configuration Utility
2. Click Startup
3. Remove check mark from:
MCUupdateExe
mgavrtclexe
MCAgentExe
System File Checker
Replace altered, corrupt, damaged or missing system files
You will need your Windows installation CD
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information
When the Microsoft System Information dialog box opens,
Click Tools
Click System File Checker
Select Scan for altered files
To clear the contents of the Documents menu
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar & Start Menu.
Click the Start Menu Programs tab.
In Documents menu, click Clear.
Start > Programs list jump to a Program folder or item
Start > Programs
Type the first letter of the Program folder or item
Start > Programs list rearrange list
Start > Programs
Select the Program folder or item you want to move
Drag it to where you want it to be.
Start > Programs list rename a Program folder or item
Start > Programs
Right-click the Program folder or item you want to rename
Click rename
Type or edit the name in the Rename dialog box
Click OK button
To remove a program shortcut from the Start or Programs menu
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar & Start Menu.
Click the Start Menu Programs tab.
Click Remove, and then locate the program you want to remove.
Click the program, and then click Remove.
Although this deletes the shortcut from the Start menu, the original program remains on your computer.
Click Advanced if you want to delete a program's shortcut by using Windows Explorer.
To remove a program (shortcut) from the Start or Programs menu using Windows Explorer
C: > Windows > Start Menu > Programs highlight file and press the delete key.
Display all file name extensions
Double click on My Computer
Click View menu
Click Folder Options
Click the View tab, and then click Show all files.
Click to clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box.
Click OK button
Turn Screen Saver off
Right-click on the desktop area
Select Properties from the menu
Click on Screen Saver tab
Select None from the pull-down menu
Click Settings
Select Never from pull down menus for monitor and hard disks
Click OK
Keyboard Shortcuts
You can press the key for the underlined letter in a dialogue box to select
that option instead of using the mouse. If pressing the letter doesn't work,
you can press the Alt key plus the underlined letter.
This is especially helpful when your mouse won't work.
System Configuration Utility
Click Start
Click Run
Type "msconfig"
Click OK
Another way
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information
Click Tools
Click System Configuration Utility
Click Startup
Before you make any changes, make a record of the items that are checked
System Configuration Editor
Click Start
Click Run
Type "sysedit"
Click OK
View files in notepad:
autoexec.bat
config.sys
win.ini
system.ini
protocol.ini
msmail.ini
System Properties
Right click on My Computer icon on the desktop
Click properties
IP Configuration (WINIPCFG) Utility
Connect to Internet
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type: winipcfg
Click More Info.
To see the addresses of the DNS servers the computer is configured to use, click the ellipsis (...) button to the right of DNS Servers.
To see address information for your network adapter(s), select an adapter from the list in Ethernet Adapter Information.
Ping
Get IP Address from IP Configuration Utility
Click MS-DOS Prompt
Type ping and the IP Address
Press Enter
Bootlog.txt
To force Windows to create a new Bootlog.txt:
1. Hold down the F8 key, when Windows starts.
2 When the START UP MENU appears, select option (2) Logged (Bootlog.txt). Press enter.
Your system will boot normally and will create a new Bootlog.txt file in your C:\ directory.
3. Your previous Bootlog.txt will be renamed Bootlog.prv.
4. You can use Word Pad to view the contents of Bootlog.txt
Command Prompt (DOS) for Windows XP
Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt
or
Start > Run
Type "cmd.exe"
or
Type "cmd"
Click OK
To close Command Prompt window:
Type "exit"
Press Enter
Save List of File Names in a Directory to a File
Goto DOS - see above.
Start > Run >Type cmd (gives you a 'DOS' window)
Navigate to the folder you want (c:\folder)
Type cd.. until you are in the C: base directory
Type DIR > newfile.txt
This will create a file named "newfile.txt" and the list of file names in that directory are saved in that file.
Type at the C:\> prompt
DIR E:\Files > e2list.txt
This will create a file named "e2list.txt" and the list of file names on the CD in the "Files" directory are saved in that file.
If you type: DIR E:\File4 > e2list.txt
This will erase the information on the file "e2list.txt" and now will list the file names on the CD in the "File4" directory
To add a list of the file names on the E:\File4 directory to the file e2list.txt
Type at the C:\> prompt:
DIR E:\File4 >> e2list.txt
To print a directory type:
Manually Remove Temporary Files
Start > Run
Type "%temp%"
Click OK
When the Temp folder opens:
Edit > Select All > Delete Key
Click Yes
ftp + dsl + xp
Problem:
If you move up from dial-up to dsl, you may not be able to ftp (upload) files to your Web site.
The cause of the problem is Windows Firewall.
1. Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall > Off
Turn the Windows Firewall off, then ftp your files, then turn Windows Firewall on.
While your Windows Firewall is turned off, your computer is vulnerable to attack.
2. If you use Verizon DSL and select MSN, MSN gives you a free
McAffee Personal Firewall.
McAffee Personal Firewall allows you to ftp with out exposing your computer to attack.
3. If you don't have MSN:
Buy McAffee Personal Firewall and use it.
Disabling Messenger Service in Windows XP
To turn off Messenger Service
Click Start > Run > Type "services.msc" > OK
double-click on Messenger in the list of Services
change Startup type to "Disabled"
click "Stop" button
click "OK" button
Vista
Task Manager
You can open Task Manager by right-clicking an empty area on the taskbar and then clicking Task Manager, or by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC.
Optimize Windows Vista for better performance
Vista Report
