Computer in use
Using Remote Assistance to Get Help When You Need It
If you've ever tried to help a novice user troubleshoot a Windows problem over the phone, you know how frustrating the process can be. It's usually difficult for an inexperienced user to accurately communicate detailed configuration information, especially if the problem involves technically challenging areas such as hardware drivers or network protocols. Because you're not looking over the user's shoulder, you can't see error messages or informational dialog boxes, so you have to rely on the user to read this crucial information back to you. Even when you successfully pin down the problem and find a solution, you have to walk the user through a repair process that can be daunting.
Microsoft has finally provided a truly simple and useful tool in the form of Remote Assistance built into Windows XP. With Remote Assistance, you can allow a trusted "expert" to see exactly what's happening with your malfunctioning computer and fix anything that's fixable.
How It Works
Remote Assistance lets you open a direct connection between two machines over the Internet or over a local area network. Even if you're hundreds or thousands of miles away, you can watch as the user demonstrates the problem and take control of the screen to make repairs quickly and accurately. You can investigate Control Panel settings, run diagnostic tools, install updates, and even edit the registry of the problem-plagued PC. Repairs that might have taken hours the old-fashioned way can be accomplished in a few minutes using this tool
How Do I Do It?
There are three ways to use Remote Assistance, described at the links I've entered below. The fastest is via instant messaging using Windows Messenger. You an also initiate Remote Assistance sessions via e-mail, or if you use a Web-based e-mail service, such as MSN® Hotmail®, you can fill out a form and save it as a file to attach to an e-mail.
To use Remote Assistance, you will need:
1: Two computers running Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition. The computer receiving assistance and the computer providing assistance must both run Windows XP.
2: Both computers must be connected via a network or the Internet.
3: Windows Messenger must be installed on both computers.
Below are links as to how you would initiate each of the 3 different Remote Assistance processes.
How To Use Remote Assistance via Instant Messaging
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/viaim.mspx
How To Use Remote Assistance via E-Mail
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/viaemail.mspx
How To Use Remote Assistance by Sending a File
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/viafile.mspx
Additional Information and FAQ's
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/remoteassist/default.mspx
Windows Tweaks and more
Editing the Registry for "other" Users
From an account with Administrator level access
1) Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT
2) In Regedit, highlight the HKEY_USERS key and go to File, Load Hive.
3) Use the File Open dialog to go to the Documents and Settings<username> folder, where <username> is the account you wish to modify.
4) Highlight the NTUSER.DAT file in this folder (usually a hidden file) and select Open.
5) You'll be prompted to enter a "Key name". You can use whatever you wish, but I use the User's logon name.
6) You can now expand the Hive you just loaded and make any needed changes.
7) When finished, highlight this Hive again and go to File, Unload Hive.
NOTE: You MUST unload the Hive prior to logging on to the users account. Otherwise XP may have trouble loading the user's profile.
Changing Drive Letters in Windows XP?
When you add drives to your computer, such as an extra hard drive, a CD drive, or a storage device that corresponds to a drive, Windows automatically assigns letters to the drives. However, this assignment might not suit your system; for example, you might have mapped a network drive to the same letter that Windows assigns to a new drive. When you want to change drive letters, follow these steps:
- Right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
- Under Computer Management, click Disk Management. In the right pane, you’ll see your drives listed. CD-ROM drives are listed at the bottom of the pane.
- Right-click the drive or device you want to change, and then click Change Drive Letter and Paths.
- Click Change, click Assign the following drive letter, click the drive letter you want to assign, and then click OK.
You will not be able to change the boot or system drive letter in this manner. Many MS-DOS-based and Windows-based programs make references to a specific drive letter (for example, environment variables). If you modify the drive letter, these programs may not function correctly.
This article is for Windows 2000, but the same concepts apply to Windows XP. I do not offer ANY support for this procedure. NOTE: Some user's have reported that this has rendered their system unbootable. Others have reported that it works. If you follow this procedure, you do so at your own risk.
To Disable CD autoplay, completely, in Windows XP Pro
1) Click Start, Run and enter GPEDIT.MSC
2) Go to Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System.
3) Locate the entry for Turn autoplay off and modify it as you desire.
How do I find my IP address?
What is your Internet IP address? - Click HERE - http://www.ipaddressworld.com
(Note: if you're using a router, the IP displayed will be that of the router's WAN IP address, not your actual LAN IP address)
You can download the Windows 2000 version of WINIPCFG here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/wntipcfg-o.asp
If the network connection icon is in the System tray, right click it, select Status, then go to the Support tab.
Last, open a Command Prompt window and type IPCONFIG /ALL
How do I enable CD burning for Limited accounts?
This tip does not apply to Nero users, it is only for XP's built-in CD burning feature.
Allow limited users access to CD Burning:
To allow Limited User's to burn CD's, click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT. Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon
Look in the right pane for AllocateDASD and double click the entry. Set the value to 2.
On PRO, this is exposed in Local Security Policy under Security SettingsLocal PoliciesSecurity Options
"Devices: Allowed to format and eject removable media"
For XP Pro, you can do this by clicking Start, Run and entering SECPOL.MSC
Go to Local Policies, Security Options, look in the right pane for Devices: Allowed to Format and eject removable media. Set this option to Administrators and Interactive Users
Editing the Registry for "other" Users
From an account with Administrator level access
1) Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT
2) In Regedit, highlight the HKEY_USERS key and go to File, Load Hive.
3) Use the File Open dialog to go to the Documents and Settings<username> folder, where <username> is the account you wish to modify.
4) Highlight the NTUSER.DAT file in this folder (usually a hidden file) and select Open.
5) You'll be prompted to enter a "Key name". You can use whatever you wish, but I use the User's logon name.
6) You can now expand the Hive you just loaded and make any needed changes.
7) When finished, highlight this Hive again and go to File, Unload Hive.
NOTE: You MUST unload the Hive prior to logging on to the users account. Otherwise XP may have trouble loading the user's profile.
How do I repair Internet Explorer in Windows® XP?
Revised - 03/03/2002
The ability to Repair Internet Explorer does not exist in the version that ships with Windows XP. This feature only becomes available after you upgrade to a newer version. This is normal and has been this way since Windows 98 and IE4.
However, you can reinstall IE in Windows XP by clicking Start, Run and entering the following command:
rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%Infie.inf
You will need to have your XP CD available.
Some people have problems with the command line above. A small VB Script that will execute the command for you can be downloaded here. Save the file to your hard drive and double click it to run IE Setup.
How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP (Q318378)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q318378
Disable the Windows XP Splash Screen
Ever wonder what's going on behind that splash screen? Well, now you can find out!
Right click My Computer, Properties, Advanced, Startup and Recovery, Edit. Edit BOOT.INI. Add "/SOS" right after "/fastdetect" with a space between. The line will look something like this:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /SOS. When you're finished. The first part, multi(0)..... may not be the same on your machine. Upon restarting, the splash screen will be gone. It can be re-enabled by removing the new switch.
How do I delete an "undeletable" file?
Thanks to MS-MVP Kelly Theriot for this tip.
Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open. Close all open programs. Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE Go to the Processes tab and End Process on Explorer.exe. Leave Task Manager open. Go back to the Command Prompt window and change to the directory the AVI (or other undeletable file) is located in. At the command prompt type DEL <filename> where <filename> is the file you wish to delete. Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell. Close Task Manager.
Enable the Administrator account on the Welcome Screen
Option 1: Download and install TweakUI from the Powertoys for Windows XP collection. In the Logon section, you can hide, or make visible, User accounts on the Welcome Screen.
Option 2: Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogonSpecialAccountsUserList (note that there is a space in the Windows NT). Right click in the right pane and select New, DWord value. Give the value the same name as the Username on the Welcome Screen (it must match) for the account you wish to hide/show. Double click the new value and set it to 1 to show the account on the Welcome Screen, or set it to 0 to hide the account.
Example: Doug is a user on the computer, Doug would be the name you give the new value.
Windows Key Shortcuts
Quick Notes on Windows XP Shortcut Keys using the Windows Key. These are used when only the desktop is showing.
[Windows Key] + [Q] = Quick-Switch Users
[Windows Key] + [E] = Start Windows Explorer
[Windows Key] + [R] = Show the Run dialog box
[Windows Key] + [F] = Open the Find window
[Windows Key] + [L] = Lock the computer / show the login screen
[Windows Key] + [U] = Starts the Utility Manager
How to Use Windows XP
Here's your one-stop shop for learning how to use the features and technologies that come with Windows XP.
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Digital Photography
Into digital photography? The features in Windows XP make it easy to transfer pictures directly from your digital camera to your computer and even help you organize and share your photos the way you want to. |
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Games for Windows
Games for Windows open a wide world of fantasy and adventure—and give you a break from reality and a chance to have fun with friends and family at any age. |
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Making Movies
Windows Movie Maker lets you use your computer to create and edit home movies with a few simple drag-and-drop moves. Then share your movie via the Web, e-mail, your computer, or CD. |
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Music and Video with Windows Media Player
With its fast and flexible playback features, Windows Media Player makes it easy to enjoy your favorite music and movies whenever you like, plus discover more with services offering premium entertainment. |
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TV and Multimedia
Take advantage of these resources to get the most out of your Media Center personal computer. |
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Instant Messaging
Windows Messenger lets you instantly communicate with friends and family all around the world from your computer, using text chat and even voice and video. |
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Pen and Ink
Find out how to put the features of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to work for you. |
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How Do I Get the Security tab in Folder Properties?
First, your hard drive must be formatted NTFS for this tab to show up.
Second, if you're running XP Pro, you must open Windows Explorer, go to Tools, Folder Options, and View and uncheck Use Simple File Sharing.
Third, if you're running XP Home, Simple File Sharing is enforced by default and cannot be disabled. You must boot the computer into Safe Mode and log in with the Administrator account, in order to see the Security tab.
WARNING: Adjusting the permissions on a drive, file or folder can lock even the Administrator account out of that drive/file/folder. Deny Permissions take precedence over Allow Permissions, regardless of your group membership. Administrators are members of the User's group, by default. Uncheck Allow, rather than using Deny.
How Do I see the Security Tab in XP Home?
Go to: http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/downloads/recommended/scm/default.asp
Instructions: Download the x 86 (Intel) versions of the Security Configuration Manager and save it to your hard disk. Double click the SCESP4I.EXE file you downloaded and extract the contents to a temporary location on your hard disk. Then open the folder you extracted the files to and locate the Setup.inf (Setup Information) file. Right click Setup.inf and select Install. After the installation is finished, reboot your computer.
Disclaimer: I have tested this procedure on my XP Home installation, and it works. I cannot guarantee that it will work on your system. Make sure you create a System Restore point before proceeding.
WARNING: Adjusting the permissions on a drive, file or folder can lock even the Administrator account out of that drive/file/folder. Deny Permissions take precedence over Allow Permissions, regardless of your group membership. Administrators are members of the User's group, by default. Uncheck Allow, rather than using Deny.
Repairing the Windows® XP Boot Loader
1) Create a Win98/Me Startup Disk
2) Create a Notepad file with the following entries, exactly as shown:
L 100 2 0 1
N C:\BOOTSECT.DOS
R BX
0
R CX
200
W
Q
3) Save the file to the Win98/Me Startup Disk as READ.SCR
4) Boot the computer with the Win98/Me Startup Disk and at the A: prompt type
DEBUG <READ.SCR
Steps 1 - 4 create the BOOTSECT.DOS file needed to boot Win98/Me. For your convenience, you can download READ.SCR here. I suggest you use right click and Save As. You may need to use the ATTRIB C:\BOOTSECT.DOS -S -H -R command if BOOTSECT.DOS already exists and you get an error when trying to recreate it.
5) Configure your computer to boot from the CD drive. This is done in the BIOS, or your computer may offer the option at startup if it detects a bootable CD. Consult your computer's manual for more information. If your computer does not support booting from CD-Rom, you should also be able to boot with a 98/Me Startup disk, and run WINNT.EXE from the I386 folder of your XP CD.
6) Insert your XP CD and boot from it.
7) You'll see some files being copied, then you'll be presented with a choice of installing or
repairing an existing installation. Choose Repair.
8) You'll be asked which XP installation you want to log into. Enter 1. There is usually only
one installation.
9) You'll be prompted for the Administrator password. For Home, the default password is blank, so just hit Enter. For Pro, enter the same password you did during setup for the Administrator account (this is not the same as the password for an Admin level account. It must be the Administrator account password).
10) At the C:\Windows prompt, type FIXBOOT. You'll be prompted to confirm. Do so.
11) When FIXBOOT is finished, remove the XP CD and type EXIT and the machine will reboot.
Reconfigure your computer to boot from the hard drive if necessary.
You will now get the XP Boot loader with your choice of operating systems.
12) If you found this information helpful, please consider making a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or a support contribution for this site. (Optional)
No e-mail support is provided for this procedure.
Lock your Desktop
Press the Windows key and the L key (WinKey+L) at the same time.
Additionally, you can create a new shortcut, with the following command line:
rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation
Copy the new shortcut to your Quick Launch bar and you have one click access to locking the desktop.
Notes: If you are using the Welcome screen and Fast User Switching is enabled, other users will still have access to you computer, by selecting their Username and entering their password. Additionally, if you don't have a password on your account, then all that is required is to click on your Username on the Welcome screen.
Stop Messenger Service Popups
The Messenger Service, not to be confused with Windows Messenger, is used to send messages across a network or LAN. Spammers have found that they can exploit this to send messages to your computer, when you're connected to the Internet. However, the Messenger Service is not the problem. The reason that they can send these messages is that your Internet connection is not secure. The use of a firewall will stop these messages. For detailed information on Windows XP's built-in firewall, open Help and Support and search for "firewall".
To enable XP's built in firewall, Open Network Connections, or right click My Network Places and select Properties.
Right click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to protect and select Properties.
On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select one of the following:
To enable Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), select the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box.
To disable Internet Connection Firewall, clear the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box.
If you have a valid reason to run without a firewall, then you can disable the Messenger Service. Go to Start, Run and enter SERVICES.MSC. Locate the entry for Messenger. Double click this entry and set it to Stopped and Disabled.
Multibooting with Windows XP: Introduction
Multibooting with Windows XP
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You can install two or more operating systems on your computer, and then choose the one that you want to use each time you restart. This is known as multibooting. You can configure your computer to start Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, and either Windows 95 or Windows 98.
Consider Disk Space, Type, and File System
Before using the multibooting feature, consider the tradeoffs: each operating system uses valuable disk space, and file system compatibility can be complex if you want to run Windows XP on one partition and an earlier OS on another partition. In addition, dynamic disk format introduced in Windows 2000 does not work with earlier operating systems. However, multibooting capabilities are a valuable feature providing the single-machine flexibility to run multiple operating systems.
In the past, some users installed multiple operating systems as a safeguard against problems with starting the computer. With Windows XP, you have more and better options for system recovery. For example, if you have a problem with a newly-installed device driver, you can use safe mode, in which the operating system restarts with default settings and the minimum number of drivers. Windows XP also includes compatibility mode, so you no longer need to keep an older operating system to run most of your older programs.
However, multibooting continues to be a useful feature if you are using Windows XP but occasionally need to replicate older computing environments. This article provides an overview of multibooting, beginning with a summary of disk requirements followed by guidelines for multibooting with Windows XP. It also addresses multibooting issues for running Windows XP with earlier operating systems including Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 9x, and MS-DOS®. Each section includes a checklist summary for easy reference.
Does Your Disk Support Multibooting?
The following table shows the disk configurations on which you can install more than one operating system.
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Disk configuration |
Requirements for multiple operating systems |
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This is the common name for the hard disk in your computer. You have a basic disk unless you have converted it to dynamic disk. MS-DOS and all Windows-based operating systems can access basic disks. A basic disk can contain up to four primary partitions. A partition is a section of the disk that functions as a separate unit. Each partition can have a different file format and different drive letter, for example, C: and D:. Each operating system must be on a separate partition. |
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If you have one hard disk and you have converted it to dynamic disk, you can install only one operating system. You cannot multiboot.
To determine if you have a dynamic hard disk, click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools.
Double-click Computer Management, and then click Disk Management. In the right pane, your disk will be labeled as a basic or dynamic type. |
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If you have two or more hard disks installed in your computer, each dynamic disk can contain one installation of Windows XP Professional, or Windows 2000. No other operating systems can start from a dynamic disk. Windows XP Home Edition does not support dynamic disks. |
One OS per Partition
Before installing Windows XP and an earlier version on the same machine, you must prepare your hard disk with different partitions.
When you install Windows on a new or reformatted hard disk, the Setup program typically does not partition your hard disk automatically. To create multiple partitions, choose Advanced Options during Setup and follow the instructions to create and name multiple partitions. You can also create partitions using Fdisk.
If you have already installed Windows, and you have only one partition, you must reformat and partition your hard drive before you can multiboot.
You can divide your hard disk into multiple partitions, and each partition can function as a separate logical drive. For example, logical drives C: and D: can both exist on the same hard disk, but function as separate disks. You should install each operating system on a different partition. Then install applications on the same partition as the operating system with which you run them. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install copies on both partitions. Placing each operating system in a separate partition ensures that it will not overwrite crucial files used by the other OS.
A basic disk can contain up to four partitions. Each partition can be formatted for use by a file system, such as FAT32 or NTFS.
Outlook Express keeps prompting for your password
NOTE: Following this procedure will remove all stored passwords for your user account. Make sure you know what they are before performing this procedure!!
This fix also applies to Outlook, other programs that store passwords in the Protected Storage System Provider sub branch of the Registry. It also corrects some issues with Internet Explorer and Auto complete.
This is caused by a damaged Registry key. To Remove the broken Key in Windows® XP
1) Click Start, click Run, and then type regedt32 in the Open box.
2) Locate the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider
3) Right click the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider key, and then Select Permissions.
4) In the Permissions for Protected Storage System Provider dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Make sure that the <Username> has Full Control access. Select "Replace permission entries..."
5) Click OK.
6) Repeat steps 3 through 5 for each subkey that is listed under the Protected Storage System Provider registry key; otherwise, you may receive the following error message when you try to delete the Protected Storage System Provider key:
Registry editor could not delete the key currently selected. The key or one of its
subkeys does not give you delete access.
Note: The sub keys under Protected Storage System Provide will look something like this:
S-1-5-21-1085031214-1202660629-1708537768-1003
7) At this point, you can delete the Protected Storage System Provider key by clicking Delete on the Edit menu. If you prefer, you can first export a copy of this key, and then delete the key. To export the key, right click the Protected Storage System Provider key, and select Export. The exported file can be re-imported by double clicking on it.
8) When you click Delete, you receive the following message:
Registry editor will delete the currently selected key and all its subkeys. Do you want to continue
the operation?
Click Yes to finish the process.
9) Start Outlook Express. When Outlook Express checks your mail account(s) you will be able to re-enter your password(s). This process repopulates the Protected Storage System Provider registry key with the correct information for that computer's SID.
OLEXP: Your Password Is Not Retained in Windows 2000 or Windows XP (Q264672) |
