Articles in Category: Windows
What's this "Validation Scan" all about?
The whole validation and activation thing (WPA, or Windows Product Activation) is pretty confusing. Most folks were very concerned with it when QPA was first introduced, but we rarely hear much about it these days. In general it kinda, sorta works. We’re just not always sure why or how. The original question was actually several, … Read more
How do I get the entire Programs menu to always display?
Well, I think I get what you’re asking about. But even if I’m a little off, what I’m about to explain actually covers several things. In fact, most people don’t realize that there’s a plethora of customization options related to the Start menu.
How Do I Get At System Restore In Windows XP?
System Restore settings are in the properties of My Computer, but actually running the System Restore application is a little less obvious.
Can I Have Too Many Drivers?
This is a classic case of “Theory” versus “Practice”. In theory everything should just work. In practice? Not so much. In fact, it’s one of the causes of something called “software rot”.
How do I remove boot choices that I no longer want?
In Windows XP removing boot choices is as simple as editing a hidden configuration file. Fortunately finding that file is relatively easy.
How do I find the Windows CD Key from the CD?
We’ll look at where to find your Windows CD Key.
Where is it alright for svchost.exe to be?
Svchost.exe is frequently spoofed by viruses attempting to hide. The official copy should be in your Windows\system32 folder, but there may be others.
So just what is the I386 directory anyway?
Whoa … seems my answers around the I386 direectory have been generating lots of additional questions as well. Let’s see if we can clarify they “I386 mystery”. Let me start by answering a question you didn’t ask, because it’s related, incredibly important, and the reason that I386 appears in so many of my answers: In my … Read more
Why is there a blank entry in my msconfig startup entries?
There are several places that items can get added to the startup list. This particular situation is most likely a malformed registry entry. MSConfig is a nice enough tool for simple situations, but to diagnose this one, I’d break out a bigger gun. I had to, in fact. I looked, and sure enough … I … Read more
Can I move or delete my I386 directory to free up some space?
The question others are asking is probably “OK, so what’s a C:\I386 directory?” In a nutshell, it’s a copy of Windows, and yes, you can move it, but I don’t recommend deleting it completely. It’s just too darned useful.
Does Windows XP Home Support Booting From CD-ROM?
The answer is “yes”, but that may not help you, depending on what you’re attempting to do, and what computer you have. It’s not Windows you should be concerned about. It’s your PC.
I Have No C: Drive, But Some Programs Insist On It. What Can I Do?
Most people don’t realize that using “C:” as the primary drive on your computer is fairly arbitrary. It’s a good practice, if only to avoid the problems you’re running into, but as you’ve seen you don’t need to have it that way. You can build a system that boots from a drive of a different … Read more
What is the UserData directory in my Documents and Settings?
To begin with, be careful. There may be other directories called “UserData” on your machine. It’s a common name for any number of different purposes, and used by several different applications. But these, at that specific location in your Documents and Settings, are fairly clear.
What’s the difference between COMMAND.COM and CMD.EXE?
COMMAND.COM and CMD.EXE are versions of the command interpreter for MS-DOS and Windows. They’re both available, but you only really need one.
Why is my USB device asking for a CD when I attach it?
We’ll look at some ideas to try to stop a USB device from asking for a CD.
How do I check the version of XP Service Pack 2 installed on my PC?
Well, first, let’s be clear: there is no version of SP2. It’s either there, or it’s not. There are several ways to find out, and find out what other patches post SP2 have been installed as well.
How Do I Get Administrative Privileges on Windows XP?
If you have the password for the administrator account, you can easily elevate any other login account to have administrator privileges.
How do I schedule a program to run on my machine periodically?
The Linux readers are all shouting “cron!” at their computers. Windows has something similar, of course. And it’s very, very flexible. Just fairly well hidden.
How do I resolve my problem with appcompat.txt?
Here’s what to do when you see appcompat.txt.
Can I make a desktop icon for a web page shortcut?
Adding shortcuts to your desktop for programs, documents or even specific web pages is very easy.
Why does my computer go nuts sometimes?
If you have speech recognition always enabled it can cause your computer to “go nuts” because of the different sounds it interprets as actual words.
Can I delete lsass.exe? svchost.exe?
Lsass.exe and svchost.exe are required system files for Windows. If you delete them without care, your system may become unbootable.
What are "LSASS", "LSASS.EXE" and "Sasser" and how do I know if I'm infected? What do I do if I am?
LSASS is a Windows component shown in error messages, often due to a virus infection such as Sasser. Learn about LSASS, LSASS.EXE and how to stay safe.
Svchost and Svchost.exe – Crashs, CPU maximization, viruses, exploits and more.
Svchost (and Svchost.exe) is a required Windows component that often shows up in errors caused by viruses. Review Svchost, Svchost.exe, and how to stay safe.
Can the Same File Have Two Different Names?
It’s possible to have two different names for the exact same file on disk. The tools, like the concept, are a little obscure but can be very useful.
How can I disable my “Windows” key? Or for that matter, remap my entire keyboard?
Outside of a few standard layouts, truly customizing the layout of your keyboard is typically harder than you might expect.
What’s This Program Running on My Machine?
There are many programs running on your machine. It’s not always obvious exactly what they are or why they’re running, so we’ll look for some clues.
Can I adjust some master NTFS table size to handle large number of files better?
The Master File Table is used by the NTFS file system to track how files are laid out on disk. The layout of the MFT itself can impact performance.
