XP running Slow. To Make It Faster.........

SLOW AND SLUGGISH SYSTEM

Another common problem that Windows XP users have is a slow or sluggish system. If your programs take an unusually long time to open, or if using XP feels like running barefoot through a puddle of Super Glue, then try these fixes.

Remove Spyware

Spyware is a general term describing dangerous programs that sneak into your computer by tricking you into installing them or by hiding in other programs you install. One of the most noticeable symptoms of spyware infection is a computer that suddenly acts strangely and runs unusually slow. If you think you have a spyware problem, follow these steps:

1. Connect to the Internet.

2. Download two different spyware-removal programs.
Some popular brands include:
• Ad-Aware F
• Spybot Search and Destroy
• Spy Sweeper
• eTrust PestPatrol
• McAfee AntiSpyware

3. Disconnect from the Internet.

4. Uninstall all file-sharing programs like Kazaa, BitTorrent, Limewire, or Bearshare that are used for trading pirated MP3 files or movies. If you do not eliminate these programs, they could reinstall any spyware you remove. To uninstall a program, follow these steps:
a. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows.
b. Click the Control Panel.
c. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
d. A window opens. Scroll down the list until you see the name of a file-sharing program.
e. Click the name of the file-sharing program, and then click the button on its right labeled Remove.

5. Install one of the antispyware programs you just downloaded. If you downloaded Ad-Aware, then install it first.

6. Connect to the Internet.

7. Open the antispyware program, and then update it (often referred to as updating its “definitions”). This ensures that it is capable of removing the newest spyware threats.

8. Use the antispyware program to scan your entire computer. If it finds any spyware, make sure it removes or "quarantines” each piece.

9. If the antispyware program asks you to reboot your computer so it can properly remove stubborn pieces of spyware, then follow its instructions. Even if you are not asked to reboot, it is still a good idea.

10. When you return to Windows, install your second antispyware program.

11. Connect to the Internet.

12. Open the second antispyware program, and then update it.

13. Use the second antispyware program to scan your entire computer. If it finds any spyware, make sure it removes or quarantines each piece.

14. If one of your antispyware programs allows you to turn on “shields” to protect Windows from future infections, then do so.

15. If your computer still acts strangely, it might be infected with a different digital threat such as a virus, worm, or Trojan horse. Consider using antivirus software to scan for those threats.

16. If your computer still has problems, consult a certified computer professional.

Defragment Your Hard Drive

The more you add or remove software, the more disorganized Windows becomes. To tidy up Windows and make it run faster and more efficiently, use a program called Disk Defragmenter.

Follow these steps:
1. Close all open files and folders on your computer.

2. Temporarily disable your antivirus software as follows:
a. Right-click the icon for your antivirus or antispyware program, which is usually located in the lower-right corner of Windows near the clock.
b. Select the Close or Disable or Shut Down option.

3. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows.

4. Click All Programs.

5. Select Accessories.

6. Select System Tools.

7. Click Disk Defragmenter.

8. The Disk Defragmenter program opens. Near the top of this window, click the C: drive (unless you have Windows XP installed on a different drive, in which case you would click the letter for that drive).

9. Click the Analyze button located near the bottom of this window.

10.Your hard drive is scanned to determine whether or not it needs to be defragmented. If a message says “You should defragment this volume,” then click the Defragment button. The process will begin immediately and will probably take 30 to 60 minutes to complete (or more if you have a very slow computer). For the best results, do not use your computer until the defragmentation has finished.

11. A message pops up to inform you that the defragmentation is complete. To read a detailed report about what occurred, click the View Report button. If you are not interested in seeing this report, simply click the Close button.

12. Turn on your antivirus software by right-clicking its icon near the Windows clock and selecting Enable or Restore. If the antivirus’ icon is not there, then you must manually restart the program by doing the following:
a. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows.
b. Click All Programs.
c. Select the folder containing the name of your antivirus software.
For example, if you use Norton AntiVirus, then select the Norton AntiVirus folder.
d. Click the shortcut to launch the program.

Windows XP contains many visual options and enhancements designed to make it more eye catching. If your computer is several years old — or if it has less than 256 megabytes of RAM — then you should disable these features to make your system more efficient. Here’s how:

1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop.

2. Select Properties.

3. A window opens. Click the Advanced tab.

4. Under the Performance heading, click the Settings button.

5. Another window opens. Under the Visual Effects tab, click the Adjust for Best Performance button.

6. Click the Apply button.

7. Click the OK button.

Start Windows Faster

One of the best ways to help your computer start more quickly is to reduce the number of programs that are loaded while Windows is “waking up.” To tweak the startup, you must use a utility called msconfig, as follows:
1. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows.

2. Click Run.

3. A window opens. Type msconfig in the blank, and then click the OK button or press the Enter key.

4. The System Configuration Utility window opens. Click the Startup tab on the far right.

5. In the Startup Item column on the left is a list of programs with checkmarks next to them. A checkmark indicates that the program is scheduled to launch each time Windows starts. To prevent a program from loading at startup, remove the checkmark from its box. Here are guidelines about which programs to allow or to disable:
• Disable non-essential multimedia programs like qttask (which is part of the QuickTime software), realsched (which is part of the RealPlayer software), or Adobe Reader.
• Allow common processes for Windows and Microsoft Office.
• Allow programs related to your antivirus software, antispyware software, or firewall. For example, if you use the ZoneAlarm firewall and Spy Sweeper antispyware program, then you should allow the startup programs named zlclient and SpySweeper.

Disable Unneeded Services

Another way to reduce the strain on an aging computer is to disable ome nonessential Windows services. Follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows.

2. Click the Control Panel.

3. If the Control Panel is in category view, click the Performance and Maintenance category, and then click the Administrative Tools icon. If the Control Panel is in classic view, simply double-click the Administrative Tools icon.

4. Double-click the Services icon.

5. A window opens. Using the scroll bar, scroll down until you see Alerter, and then double-click it.

6. Another window opens. Click the Startup Type drop-down menu, and then select Disabled.

7. Click the Apply button.

8. Click the OK button.

9. Return to the Services window and repeat the previous steps to disable the following services:
• IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service: This service controls the basic, no-frills CD-burning program built into Windows XP. If you currently use a separate CD-burning program like Nero Burning ROM, Easy Media Creator, or NTI CD-Maker, then you can disable the IMAPI service. Doing so should not affect your burning program, and might even make it faster. However, if problems arise, then simply return to this window and re-enable IMAPI.
• Indexing Service
• MS Software Shadow Copy Provider: If you have the Professional Edition of Windows XP and want to use its internal Backup program, then do not disable this service. Otherwise, this service is unnecessary.
• Volume Shadow Copy: If you have the Professional Edition of Windows XP and want to use its internal backup program, then do not disable this service. Otherwise, this service is unnecessary.

Reduce Your Fonts

A font refers to the style and appearance of the words you type in a word processor or similar program. A little-known fact about fonts is that having too many of them increases the time it takes for Windows to start. If you have a large collection of fonts but don’t want to delete any, then do the following:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop.

2. A window opens. Double-click the icon for your C: drive.

3. Double-click the Windows folder.

4. You might see a message that says, “This folder contains files that keep your system working properly, so there is no need to modify its contents.” If so, click the message below it that says, “Show files or Show the contents of this folder.”

5. Double-click the Fonts folder.

6. Inside this folder, determine how many fonts you have by looking at the lower-left corner of the Status Bar. If you don’t have the Status Bar enabled, then do the following:
a. At the top of the folder, click the View drop-down menu.
b. Click Status Bar.
c. The status bar appears at the bottom of the folder.

7. If you have more than 300 fonts, browse through them and decide which ones you rarely use and can be moved to a different folder. To preview a font, double-click its name.

8. Hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the name of each font you want to move. This causes your selected fonts to become highlighted.

9. Click the Edit drop-down menu.

10. Select Copy.

11. Return to your C: drive, and then click the File drop-down menu.

12. Select New.

13. Select Folder.

14. A New Folder appears in your C: drive. Right-click it, and then select Rename.

15. Type a new name for the folder such as Fonts2 or Other Fonts.

16. Double-click the folder to open it.

17. Inside the folder, right-click the empty space and select Paste.Your selected fonts are pasted into the folder.

18. Return to your original Fonts folder and delete the fonts you just copied.

19. If you ever need to use one of the fonts you moved, do the following:
a. Right-click the font, and then select Copy.
b. Open your original Fonts folder.
c. Click the Edit drop-down menu.
d. Select Paste. The font is installed to its original location.

Tips About Computers ( Vista Tips and Tweaks!)

Well, here is a list of tips and tweaks found on the net that make your vista more user friendly and faster.

1. Increase max IE7 downloads

Internet Explorer 7 only allows you to download two files from the same server at a time. This is not a software limit but rather a limit imposed based on the web standard. Since this is simply a software setting, it can be modified and you can increase the limit to something much high such as 10. Follow the steps below to increase your max downloads from the same server:

1. Click on the Start Button and type in Regedit.
2. When Registry Editor loads navigate through HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
Software, Microsoft, Windows, CurrentVersion and Internet Settings.
3. Right click on MaxConnectionsPerServer and select Modify. Set the
decimal value to something greater than 2.
4. Right click on MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server and select Modify. Set the
decimal value to something greater than 2.
5. Reboot.

2. Enhance SATA disk performance

Do you have a SATA disk drive in your computer? If so, you can squeeze a little more performance out of your hard disk. This speeds up the performance of your hard disk by enhancing write caching. However, if your computer is not connected to a battery backup and you loose power you have a increased risk for data loss or corruption. If you have a laptop your chances are data loss or corruption are dramatically less since your laptop battery will kick on if your power source is lost. Let's get started:

1. Click on the Start Button and key in Device Manager and hit Enter.
2. Expand Disk Drives.
3. Right click on your hard drive and select Properties.
4. On the Policies tab, check Enable advanced performance.
5. Hit OK and close Device Manager.

3. Stop User Account Control (UAC) screen flicker / flash

Follow the steps below to disable UAC secure desktop:

1. Click on the Start Button and key in secpol.msc and hit Enter.
2. Navigate through Local Policies and Security Options.
3. Scroll to the bottom and right click on "User Account Control: Switch to
the secure desktop when prompting for elevation" and select Properties.
4. Set the option to Disabled and hit OK.

4. Boost your performance with ReadyBoost

Windows Vista has many new features that are designed to help older computers run Windows Vista better. One of those features and the topic of this tweak is called ReadyBoost. ReadyBoost helps your computer by giving it more high-speed memory. If your computer is running low on RAM then it has to kick a lot of applications out of high-speed physical memory to the paging file on your hard drive. This usually results in a big hit in performance and increased activity on your hard drive. ReadyBoost helps this situation by giving Windows an alternative to having to stick data into the slow paging file on your hard drive. Instead, ReadyBoost uses a USB storage device that is faster than a hard disk. This results in a performance boost because Windows will have a high speed alternative than using the slow paging file on your hard drive.

In order for ReadyBoost to work, it requires a USB storage device that meets minimum performance and space requirements:

* The device must be at least 64 MB
* The device must be USB 2.0
* It has to be able to read at 3.5 MB/s
* It has to be able to write at 2.5 MB/s

If you are unsure if your USB storage device meets these requirements, just give it a try anyways. To get started using ReadyBoost, follow these steps:

1. Plug in USB storage device.
2. Go to Computer and right click on the removable storage device and select Properties.
3. If your device is compatible, you will see a ReadyBoost tab. Click on that.
4. Select Use this device and select the amount of space on it you want to dedicate for the ReadyBoost system file.
5. Click OK and you are finished.

5. Speed up Start Menu Search (New Method)

The search box on the new Start Menu in Windows Vista can be very useful for everyday tasks. This search box is very powerful because not only does it search the start menu and control panel, but it also searches your pictures, documents and even your e-mails. The scope of the search is very wide and you can see some performance benefits if you narrow it down to just searching the start menu and control panel. Follow these steps to optimize your start menu search:

1. Right click on the start button and select Properties.
2. Click on the Customize button.
3. Remove the check from Search Communications.
4. Set Search Files to Don't search for files.
5. Click OK.
6. Click OK once more.

6. Disable User Account Control (UAC) only for Administrators

I'm sure you are well aware now of the advantages and disadvantages of UAC. It is great for non-admin users because it protects their computer from themselves. For advanced users, it can be a much different story causing many annoying authorization pop-ups. This is most common when you are doing a lot of activities that require admin rights such as installing applications and configuring Windows Vista after a fresh install. There is one practical solution to this issue that will help you with the UAC pop-ups if they annoy you and still benefit from the security of UAC.

This can be achieved by adjusting the local security policy to essentially disable UAC for administrators while leaving it enabled for low rights users. When you are using your PC for normal day-to-day use, log in with your low rights account. If you need to install a bunch of applications and make major system configuration changes then log in with your admin account. With fast user switching in Windows Vista you can easily switch between your accounts with little effort.

Follow these steps to disable UAC only for administrators:

1. Click on the Start button and type in secpol.msc and hit Enter.
2. Expand Local Policies and then Security Options.
3. Scroll to the bottom and locate "User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode".
4. Right click on this setting and select Properties.
5. Set the value to Elevate without prompting.
6. Reboot.

7. Start Menu Privacy Tweaks

Every time you open up a document or launch a program Windows Vista keeps track of this information to build the list of application for recently run applications and recent documents list. This can be a convenience or it can be a privacy problems if you use a shared computer. If that is the case, then anyone that uses the computer after you can see what applications you like to run and also see the name of the documents or photos that you looked at.

In Windows Vista Microsoft has provided a easy way to tweak this setting. Follow the steps below to protect your privacy:

1. Right click on the taskbar and select Properties.
2. Click on the Start Menu tab.
3. Uncheck Store and display a list of recently opened files.
4. Uncheck Store and display a list of recently opened programs.
5. Hit OK and you are finished.

Now the applications that you launch and the documents & photos that you look at are no longer recorded.

8. Extend Activation period

Would you like to extend the activation period to the maximum 120 days instead of the 30 day period that is set by default? It is possible and legal to do this using the software licensing manager in Windows Vista. Simply run slmgr -rearm in CMD or at START-RUN to get another 30 days. You can do this a maximum of three times before Microsoft blocks further ******************s.

9. Enable Vista Glass on Intel GMA 950 Graphics Cards

Currently Windows Vista does not have WDDM support for the Intel GMA950 integrated graphics card. Even though this card is integrated, it supports all of the requirements for Vista Glass. It is just a matter of getting a driver that is compatible with it and vista.

After doing a ton of research, I found that there is another driver that you can actually use for now. There are some problems with it, such if you have a laptop, the external monitor port does not always work but other than that it works great for me on my Lenovo X60.

This is how I got Vista Glass to run on a GMA950:

1. First, I had to open up device manager. Click on the start menu and type in devmgmt.msc and Enter to load it up.
2. Once there, expand the Display Adapters section and right click on each device and select Uninstall.
3. Reboot the computer.
4. When it restarts, it should install a generic video driver so your screen will still work.
5. Go back into Device Manager, expand the Display Adapters section again and then right click on the device and select Update Driver.
6. This time select Browse My Computer for Driver and then Let me pick it from a list.
7. Go the the Intel section and select the Intel(R) Lakeport Graphics Controller.
8. Hit OK and install the new driver. Restart your computer.
9. Once you have rebooted, right click on your desktop and select Personalize again.
10. Click on Windows Colors and Appearance.
11. Click on Open classic appearance properties for more color options.
12. In the Color Scheme box, select Windows Vista Aero.
13. Hit OK and glass will now load.

If glass does not work for you, go back to Device Manager and ensure the new display driver is working. You may have to update your system BIOS version. I had to update the BIOS version on the X60 in order for the new driver to work.

10. Resize Partitions with Vista Disk Management

In Windows Vista it is now possible to resize partitions without any data loss in the new Disk Management console.

Resizing Partitions with Windows Vista:

1. Click on the Start Button and right click on Computer and select Manage.
2. Expand the Storage section and select Disk Management.
3. Then just right click on any partition and select either Expand or Shrink to change the size of the partition.

This will allow you to safely resize your partitions without any data loss.

18 Exceptionally Useful Photoshop Shortcuts

Working with Photoshop can be quite time consuming for both beginners and advanced users. Once you’ve worked with it for a while, you begin to find that you’re constantly going back and forth between the same menu items or palette buttons. If you’re anything like me, you’re switching tools so often that most of your time spent in Photoshop isn’t even on the photo — it’s messing with the vast array of editing tools. Fortunately there’s a way to help streamline your Photoshop workflow.

Keyboard commands, or shortcuts, are simply a way to bypass a few mouse clicks when doing tool changes or tool property adjustments. They’re a little awkward and cumbersome at first, but once you pick up a couple of commands on the keyboard you’ll never go back. The whole idea is that while one hand is running the mouse, the other hand might as well be doing something too. This method of working with Photoshop can really decrease your time spent on the computer and give you more time to get behind the camera.

The following are 18 of my most commonly used shortcuts, broken out into three groups: simple, intermediate, and advanced. The simple commands are pretty easy to pull off, and they’re heavily used. The advanced commands take a little coordination, and I don’t use them quite as often. The intermediate commands are somewhere between the two. Again, these are MY most used Photoshop shortcuts. I’m also only showing the commands for Photoshop CS3 (thought CS2 should be almost identical) on a PC (sorry Mac users). So if you want to learn more about this topic, read to the bottom of the article for additional resources.

Simple-Photoshop-Shortcut-Commands

* H (Hand Tool) — When zoomed in to a portion of your photo, this command brings up the hand tool which allows for quick panning. Also, if the hand tool is active and you hold down the Ctrl key, you can zoom in without changing to the zoom tool. Likewise, if you hold down the Alt key, you can zoom out without changing tools.
* Z (Zoom Tool) — This command just brings up the zoom tool, which allows you to zoom in. Like with the hand tool, if you hold down the Alt key, it temporarily switches to the zoom out mode.
* Ctrl + 0 (Fit on Screen) — This is a quick-and-dirty command to get the entire photo in front of your eyes. That’s Ctrl + zero, not the letter “O”.
* B (Brush Tool) — The brush is an extremely useful tool when working with masks, and I’m constantly using this command along with the hand and zoom tools.
* Ctrl + Z (Undo) — Very useful for the little mistakes we all make.
* Tab (Hide/Show Palettes) — Hiding the palettes gives you a little more working room, thus decreasing your need to pan and zoom while editing.


Intermediate-Photoshop-Shortcut-Commands:

* [ (Decrease Brush Size) — Quickly decrease your brush size to get into those tighter spots.
* ] (Increase Brush Size) — Quickly increase your brush size for the larger areas.
* Shift + [ (Decrease Brush Softness) — Decrease the softness of the brush by 25%.
* Shift + ] (Increase Brush Softness) — Increase the softness of the brush by 25%.
* 1->0 (Tool Opacity) — I usually run my brush opacity around 5% or 10%, but some things require a bit more opacity. Just press one of the numbers from 1 to 0 and your tool opacity will change from 10% up to 100%. If you want finer control, press a second number quickly after the first, and you can get any percentage you want. So pressing 4 will get you 40% opacity, while pressing 4 then 3 will give you 43% opacity.
* Shift + 1->0 (Tool Flow) — This works exactly like the opacity changer, but you just have to hold the Shift key down while you hit the numbers.
* Ctrl + Tab (Next Point on Curves Adjustment) — When using the curves adjustment dialog, you can place multiple points on the curve and adjust them accordingly. Sometimes you want to make very minor shifts in those points by nudging with the keyboard, but clicking on the point to activate it usually moves it to an undesired location. Use this command to switch focus from point to point without moving them around.

Advanced-Photoshop-Shortcut-Commands:

* Ctrl + Shift + N (New Layer) — This will bring up the new layer dialog box and place a new layer on top of the active layer.
* Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N (New Layer No Dialog) — This command skips the dialog box and just places a new layer on top of the active layer.
* Ctrl + Shift + C (Copy Merged) — This works basically like the copy command, except you get a merged copy of the composite image sent to the clipboard. This command only works if you’ve made a selection on the image first (use Ctrl+A to select all), otherwise you’ll get a copy of nothing. This is useful if you want to duplicate what you see on the screen into another image file or even another layer.
* Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E (Stamp Visible) — This is actually one of my favorite commands. First, I’ll create a new empty layer on top of the stack. Then I’ll select that new layer and use this command. It does basically the same thing as the copy merged command, except it places the copy right into the new layer. I use this for creating layer blends, sharpening, and any other type of editing that can’t be done non-destructively.
* Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K (Show Keyboard Commands) — If you forget any of these commands, or if you want to check on other commands, use this to bring up the help dialog on keyboard shortcuts.

Tips About Computers(Get Rid off Windows messenger)

Rename Windows Messenger’s Folder

Another way to get rid of Messenger is to rename its folder, which prevents Windows from locating it. Although this fix is very rudimentary, it successfully stops Messenger from launching. To use this fix, follow these steps:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop. If this icon is not available, then click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows and click My Computer. If you can’t find the My Computer icon anywhere, do the following:

a. Right-click in the empty space on your desktop.

b. Select Properties.

c. A window will open. Click the Desktop tab.

d. Near the bottom of the window, click the Customize Desktop button.

e. Another window opens. On the General tab, beneath the words Desktop Icons, place a checkmark in the My Computer box.

f. Click the OK button.

g. You will be returned to the previous screen. Click the Apply button.

h. Click the OK button.

i. The My Computer icon appears on your desktop. Double-click it.

2. A window opens. Double-click the icon for your C: drive (unless you installed Windows in a different location, in which case you would double-click that drive letter).

3. Double-click the Program Files folder.

4. Locate the Messenger folder, and then right-click it.

5. Select Rename.

6. Give the folder a name that is easily recognizable, such as MessengerDisabled.

7. If you change your mind and want to use Windows Messenger again, simply rename this folder Messenger.

Force Windows to Use a Different Instant Messenger

Instead of hiding or removing Windows Messenger, you can change the settings in Windows so that it recognizes another program as your default instant messenger. The advantage of this is that it keeps Windows Messenger intact and ready to use whenever you want it.

Note
This option works only on Windows XP computers that have a minimum of Service Pack 1 installed.

To designate a different instant messaging program:

1. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows.

2. Click the Control Panel. (If you don’t see this option, then your Start
menu is in classic mode. In that case, click Settings, and then select
the Control Panel.)

3. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.

4. A window opens. In the left window pane, click the Set Program
Access and Defaults icon.

5. Click the Custom button.

6. Scroll down until you see the Choose a Default Instant Messaging
Program heading. Click the Use My Current Instant Messaging

Program button. Next, put a checkmark in the Enable Access to This Program box.



7. Click the OK button.

Tips About Computers (2nd Part)

When your computer hardware appears to power up okay, but the Windows XP operating system won't boot properly, you have to begin a troubleshooting expedition that includes getting into the operating system, determining the problem, and then fixing it. To help you get started on this expedition, here are 10 things you can do when Windows XP won't boot.

1. Use a Windows startup disk

One of the first things you should reach for when troubleshooting a Windows XP boot problem is a Windows startup disk. This floppy disk can come in handy if the problem is being caused when either the startup record for the active partition or the files that the operating system uses to start Windows have become corrupted.

To create a Windows startup disk, insert a floppy disk into the drive of a similarly configured, working Windows XP system, launch My Computer, right-click the floppy disk icon, and select the Format command from the context menu. When you see the Format dialog box, leave all the default settings as they are and click the Start button. Once the format operation is complete, close the Format dialog box to return to My Computer, double-click the drive C icon to access the root directory, and copy the following three files to the floppy disk:
• Boot.ini
• NTLDR
• Ntdetect.com
After you create the Windows startup disk, insert it into the floppy drive on the afflicted system and press [Ctrl][Alt][Delete] to reboot the computer. When you boot from the Windows startup disk, the computer will bypass the active partition and boot files on the hard disk and attempt to start Windows XP normally.


2. Use Last Known Good Configuration

You can also try to boot the operating system with the Last Known Good Configuration feature. This feature will allow you to undo any changes that caused problems in the CurrentControlSet registry key, which defines hardware and driver settings. The Last Known Good Configuration feature replaces the contents of the CurrentControlSet registry key with a backup copy that was last used to successfully start up the operating system.

To use the Last Known Good Configuration feature, first restart the computer by pressing [Ctrl][Alt][Delete]. When you see the message Please select the operating system to start or hear the single beep, press [F8] to display the Windows Advanced Options menu. Select the Last Known Good Configuration item from the menu and press [Enter].
Keep in mind that you get only one shot with the Last Known Good Configuration feature. In other words, if it fails to revive your Windows XP on the first attempt, the backup copy is also corrupt.

3. Use System Restore

Another tool that might be helpful when Windows XP won't boot is System Restore. System Restore runs in the background as a service and continually monitors system-critical components for changes. When it detects an impending change, System Restore immediately makes backup copies, called restore points, of these critical components before the change occurs. In addition, System Restore is configured by default to create restore points every 24 hours.

To use System Restore, first restart the computer by pressing [Ctrl][Alt][Delete]. When you see the message Please select the operating system to start or hear the single beep, press [F8] to display the Windows Advanced Options menu. Now, select the Safe Mode item from the menu and press [Enter].
Once Windows XP boots into Safe mode, click the Start button, access the All Programs | Accessories | System Tools menu, and select System Restore. Because you're running in Safe mode, the only option on the opening screen of the System Restore wizard is Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time, and it's selected by default, so just click Next. Then, follow along with the wizard to select a restore point and begin the restoration procedure.

4. Use Recovery Console

When a Windows XP boot problem is severe, you'll need to use a more drastic approach. The Windows XP CD is bootable and will provide you with access to a tool called Recovery Console.
To boot from the Windows XP CD, insert it into the CD-ROM drive on the problem system and press [Ctrl][Alt][Delete] to reboot the computer. Once the system begins booting from the CD, simply follow the prompts that will allow the loading of the basic files needed to run Setup. When you see the Welcome To Setup screen, shown in Figure A, press R to start the Recovery Console.
You’ll then see a Recovery Console menu, like the one shown in Figure B. It displays the folder containing the operating system’s files and prompts you to choose the operating system you want to log on to. Just press the menu number on the keyboard, and you'll be prompted to enter the Administrator’s password. You’ll then find yourself at the main Recovery Console prompt.





5. Fix a corrupt Boot.ini

As the Windows XP operating system begins to load, the Ntldr program refers to the Boot.ini file to determine where the operating system files reside and which options to enable as the operating system continues to load. So if there's a problem rooted in the Boot.ini file, it can render Windows XP incapable of booting correctly.

If you suspect that Windows XP won't boot because Boot.ini has been corrupted, you can use the special Recovery Console version of the Bootcfg tool to fix it. Of course, you must first boot the system with the Windows XP CD and access the Recovery Console as described in #4.

To use the Bootcfg tool, from the Recovery Console command prompt, type Bootcfg /parameter. Where /parameter is one of the required parameters listed in the table below.

Parameter
/Add : Scans the disk for all Windows installations and allows you to add any new ones to the Boot.ini file.
/Scan : Scans the disk for all Windows installations.
/List : Lists each entry in the Boot.ini file.
/Default : Sets the default operating system as the main boot entry.
/Rebuild : Completely re-creates the Boot.ini file. The user must confirm each step.
/Redirect : Allows the boot operation to be redirected to a specific port when using the Headless Administration feature. The Redirect parameter takes two parameters of its own: [Port Baudrate ] | [UseBiosSettings].
/Disableredirect : Disables the redirection.

6. Fix a corrupt partition boot sector

The partition boot sector is a small section of the hard disk partition that contains information about the operating system's file system (NTFS or FAT32), as well as a very small machine language program that is crucial in assisting the operating system as it loads.

If you suspect that Windows XP won't boot because the partition boot sector has been corrupted, you can use a special Recovery Console tool called Fixboot to fix it. Start by booting the system with the Windows XP CD and accessing the Recovery Console as described in #4.
To use the Fixboot tool, from the Recovery Console command prompt, type Fixboot [drive]:
Where [drive] is the letter of the drive to which you want to write a new partition boot sector.

7. Fix a corrupt master boot record

The master boot record occupies the first sector on the hard disk and is responsible for initiating the Windows boot procedure. The master boot record contains the partition table for the disk as well as a small program called the master boot code, which is responsible for locating the active, or bootable, partition, in the partition table. Once this occurs, the partition boot sector takes over and begins loading Windows. If the master boot record is corrupt, the partition boot sector can't do its job and Windows won't boot.

If you suspect Windows XP won't boot because the master boot record has been corrupted, you can use the Recovery Console tool Fixmbr to fix it. First, boot the system with the Windows XP CD and access the Recovery Console as described in #4.

To use the Fixmbr tool, from the Recovery Console command prompt, type Fixmbr [device_name].Where [device_name] is the device pathname of the drive to which you want to write a new master boot record. For example, the device pathname format for a standard bootable drive C configuration would look like this: \Device\HardDisk0

8. Disable automatic restart

When Windows XP encounters a fatal error, the default setting for handling such an error is to automatically reboot the system. If the error occurs while Windows XP is booting, the operating system will become stuck in a reboot cycle—rebooting over and over instead of starting up normally. In that case, you'll need to disable the option for automatically restarting on system failure.

When Windows XP begins to boot up and you see the message Please select the operating system to start or hear the single beep, press [F8] to display the Windows Advanced Options Menu. Then, select the Disable The Automatic Restart On System Failure item and press [Enter]. Now, Windows XP will hang up when it encounters the error and with any luck, it will display a stop message you can use to diagnose the problem.

9. Restore from a backup

If you can't seem to repair a Windows XP system that won't boot and you have a recent backup, you can restore the system from the backup media. The method you use to restore the system will depend on what backup utility you used, so you'll need to follow the utility's instructions on how to perform a restore operation.

10. Perform an in-place upgrade

If you can't repair a Windows XP system that won't boot and you don't have a recent backup, you can perform an in-place upgrade. Doing so reinstalls the operating system into the same folder, just as if you were upgrading from one version of Windows to another. An in-place upgrade will usually solve most, if not all, Windows boot problems.

Performing a Windows XP in-place upgrade is pretty straightforward. To begin, insert the Windows XP CD into the drive, restart your system, and boot from the CD. Once the initial preparation is complete, you’ll see the Windows XP Setup screen (shown earlier in Figure A). Press [Enter] to launch the Windows XP Setup procedure. In a moment, you’ll see the License Agreement page and will need to press [F8] to acknowledge that you agree. Setup will then search the hard disk looking for a previous installation of Windows XP. When it finds the previous installation, you’ll see a second Windows XP Setup screen, as shown in Figure C

This screen will prompt you to press R to repair the selected installation or to press [Esc] to install a fresh copy of Windows XP. In this case, initiating a repair operation is synonymous with performing an in-place upgrade, so you’ll need to press R. When you do so, Setup will examine the disk drives in the system. It will then begin performing the in-place upgrade.

Keep in mind that after you perform an in-place upgrade or repair installation, you must reinstall all updates to Windows.

Tips About Computers(small things can't be Ignored)

In many ways, XP is the most reliable and user-friendly version of Windows to date. However, it is not without problems. If you use XP on a regular basis, you’ve probably been infected once or twice by Windows Fever — a serious condition marked by elevated blood pressure, sudden verbal outbursts at your computer screen, and the mad desire to toss your entire PC out a window. If you are currently experiencing these symptoms, step away from your computer, count to 10 (better yet, make it 1,000), and start visiting this thread everyday.
If you haven’t contracted the disease yet, consider yourself lucky. With a good diet, regular exercise, and the digital preventive medicine that I will be sharing with you all, you can expect to remain free of the fever

PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THESE TIPS HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY ME (though I have tried and used successfully quite a few) THEY HAVE ALL BEEN COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES IN MY SOJOURNS THROUGH THAT WIDE AND WONDERFUL PLACE WE CALL THE INTERNET.:p

FIRST TIP : CLOSE AN UNRESPNOSIVE PROGRAM
Occasionally, a program may throw the digital equivalent of a temper tantrum and refuse to close.When that happens, you can force it to shut down by using the Task Manager, as follows:

1. Simultaneously press the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys on your keyboard, which opens the Windows Task Manager. (However, if your version of Windows is configured differently, then pressing these keys might open a Windows Security box. In that case, simply click the Task Manager button.)

2. Click the Applications tab.

3. Click the name of the unresponsive program.

4. At the bottom of the Task Manager, click the End Task button.

5. If the troubled program doesn’t close immediately, a message alerts you that the program is not responding. Click the End Now button.

6. If the program still does not respond, or if Windows feels sluggish, then shut down your computer and restart it.


SECOND TIP:Protect Windows from a Botched Software Installation
Before you install any new program, you should create a “restore point.” Doing so will enable you to undo any problems or damage caused by the software installation. Here’s how:

1. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of Windows.

2. Click All Programs.

3. Select Accessories.

4. Select System Tools.

5. Click System Restore.

6. The System Restore window will open. Click the Create a Restore
Point button .

7. Click Next.

8. Under the Restore Point Description heading, type some words or
sentences that will help you to remember why you are creating this
restore point. For example, if you just bought a new antivirus
program, you could label this restore point “Before Installation of
New Antivirus Software.”

9. Click the Create button.


THIRD TIP:Prevent Windows Messenger from Loading

The popularity of instant-messaging (IM) software has soared in recent years, prompting Microsoft to join the party. Built into Windows XP is an IM program called Windows Messenger that always seems to hang around even if you never use it.

You can correct this by preventing it from loading when Windows starts, as follows:

1. Open Windows Messenger by double-clicking its icon located in the lower-right corner of Windows.

2. Click the Tools drop-down menu.

3. Select Options.

4. A window opens. Click the Preferences tab.

5. Under the General heading, remove the checkmark from the Run Windows Messenger When Windows Starts box. Next, remove the checkmark from the Allow Windows Messenger to Run in the Background box.


6. Click the OK button.

7. Close Windows Messenger, and then open Outlook Express.

8. Click the Tools drop-down menu.

9. Select Options.

10. A window opens. Under the General tab, remove the checkmark from the Automatically Log On to Windows Messenger box.

11. Click the Apply button.

12. Click the OK button.

Cont---->>

Increase your memory space

COMPATABLE: TO ALL NOKIA MMC'S


Increase Your MMC Space.
-------------------------

Your files in MMC are stored in multiple (disk) blocks.
So if you format using 16K block, the space used will be 16K eventhough your file is just 1K.

If you buy MMC, it is usually preformatted with 16K block. Therefore alot of space is wasted as most installed program files are usually less than 2K.

You will need a card reader to do this:-

1. Connect card reader and copy all your files in the MMC to computer disk. (Make sure you set the show all/hidden/os files to "on")

2. Do a format of the MMC using command line "format" and use the /A=size option.

Alternative, you can use the Disk Management in Adminstrative Tools to format. Make sure you select FAT. For 256MB MMC, smallest block you can use is 4K, 128MB is 2K, 64Mb is 1K and 32MB is 512B.

(Note: You cannot use the phone "format MMC" to do this as the format just clear the allocation table and does not change the block size)

3. Copy back all files to MMC.

Now you will find that you will have more space.
256mb MMC got back 30+ mbs

4 Ways to Increase Your Internet Broadband Connection Speed

First of all check out your current broadband speed and note it down and then apply the following tweaks one by one :
1. Reducing your Web Cache Space : You need to reduce your web cache space to the minimum because this way your browser does not need to search much in the temporary files. For this you need to do the following :
Click Start > Click on Control Panel > Double Click on Internet Options > Click on Setting option under the Browsing History[Delete temporary files, history, cookies, saved passwords & web information].

Now reduce the cache size to the minimum recommended Disk Space which is normally 50Mb disk space. This way your internet connection speed will increase to some extent.

2. Speed Up your Web Pages by blocking multimedia & Turning off Graphics: This is a very important tweak which can help you increase your broadband speed by many times. Here are the steps :
Click on Start > Click on Control Panel > Double Click on Internet Options > Click on Settings under Advanced Menu > Deselect some of the options which you dont need generally while browsing example removing Show pictures if you normaly use internet connection for check out your emails etc.



Generally you need to disable Images, sounds, animations etc in order to increase your Internet speed because text wont take much time to load up in a slow connection.

3. Send Bulk emails using distribution lists : If you are looking to send a email to multiple reciptants then its time for you to signup for email distributions by Creating Mailing List, this way you can get your work sorted even if you are on a very slow internet connection.

4. Use Fasterfox : A firefox Add-On which can increase your browser performance and network tweak to increase your browsing speed. The Add-on automaticaly loads up silently all the links open when there is idle bandwidth and help you to save up some loading time with a inbuilt pop-up blocker to block unwanted pop-up’s

Dont forget to read these tips for increasing your internet browsing speed by 4 times which is related to your browser settings.

Human Brain Analysis...Its vey true .. Too Good

Women - Multiple process
Women's brains designed to concentrate multiple task at a time. Women can Watch a TV and Talk over phone and cook the new recipe.


Men - Single Process
Men's brain designed to concentrate only one work at a time. Men can not watch a TV and talking in phone same time. He stops the TV while Talking. He can either watch TV or talk over phone or cook.

LANGUAGE.
Women can easily learn many languages. Her brain set up. But can not find the solutions to problems Men can not easily learn languages; he can easily solve the problems.
3 year old gal has three times higher vocabulary than 3 year old boy.



ANALYTICAL SKILL
Men's brain has lot of space for handling the analytical process. So easily he can analyze and find the solution for a process.
He can design (blue print) a map of a building easily.
If a complex map is viewed by women, she can not understand it. She can not understand the details of the map easily.
For her it is dump of lines in a paper.



CAR DRIVING.
While driving a car, men's analytical spaces are used in his brain. He can drive a car fastly. If he see an object at long distance, immediately his brain classifies the object (bus or van or car) direction and speed of the object and driving accordingly. Where as women take a long time to recognize the object direction/ speed. His single process mind stops the audio in the car (if any), then concentrating only on the driving.
You can often watch, while men driving the car fastly, the women sit next to him will shout, "GO SLOW" , "CARE FULL", "AAHHH", "OHH GOD.."
..etc..
WOMEN ARE THE BEST DRIVERS



LIE
Many times, when men lie to women face to face, they got caught easily.
Her super natural brain observe the facial expression 70%, and the body language 20% and the words comes from mouth 10%. So he is easily caught while lying.
Men's brain does not have this.
Women easily lie to men face to face.
So guys, While lieing to your girls, use phone, or letter or close all the lights or cover your/her face with blanket.
Don't lie face to face.



PROBLEM.
End of day, if men have lot of problems, his brain clearly classifies the problems and put into individual rooms of brain, the problems in individual room of brain and finding the solution one by one. You can see many guys looking on the sky's for a long times. If you disturb him, he gets irritated.
End of Day, if women have lot of problems, her brain can not classify the problems. she wants some one to hear that. After telling everything to a person she goes happily to bed. She does not worry abt the problem solved or not.



WANTS
Men want status, success, solutions, big process.... etc Women want relationship, friends, family...etc. ..



UNHAPPY
If women unhappy with their relations, she can not concentrate on work.
If men unhappy with their work, he can not concentrate on the relations.




MAP
Men can easily locate the place in a complex map. His analytical brain does this. While watching a cricket match in a stadium with full of crowd, men can leave his seat to T shop and keeps everything in his mind and comes back to his seat with out problems. He uses his analytical skills space of brain.
Women can't do this. They often lost their way to their seat.




LIFE
Life is very easy to Men. One good job, one alcohol bottle is enough for him.
Women want everything in life.




SPEECH
Women use indirect languages in speech.
Geetha asked Vijay, "vijay do you like to have a cup of coffee?"
This means, Geetha really want a cup of coffee.
In the morning..... ..."Darling, do you think, will it be good to have an Omlette for breakfast"
Men use direct language. "Geetha, I want to have a cup of coffee, Pls stop the car when you see a coffee shop".
In the morning...." Darling, Can you please prepare an omelet for breakfast".



HANDLING EMOTION
Women talk a lot without thinking, if they are in emotion.
Men act a lot with out thinking. That's why many of prisoners are men all over the world