Rent A Geek

Rent A Geek Traverse City Computer Repair Service and Training

F.A.Q.

XP Tips & Tricks Page 2

Restoring Desktop Icon to the Quicklaunch Bar

If you mistakenly deleted the icon for the Desktop on the Quicklaunch toolbar

Go to C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
(where user_name is replaced by your login name)

Create a Text file called ShowDesktop.SCF with the following contents:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop
Network Access After Norton Anti-Virus Install

Sometimes you can't access a WinXP computer after installing Norton Anti-Virus.
There might be a variety of errors at the other computer depending on the operating system.
On the XP computer, in the Event Viewer / System log, there will be the following error:
The server's configuration parameter "irpstacksize" is too small for the server to use a local device.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters
3. Edit the IRPStackSize
4. Give it a value of 15
5. Reboot the computer

Fixing Cryptographic Services Error

If you get an error about the Cryptographic services when trying to apply the Security Updates or Service Pack 1,
run the following from Start / Run - note, you might want to just cut and paste the text.

net stop cryptsvc
ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 oldcatroot2
net start cryptsvc
regsvr32 softpub.dll
regsvr32 wintrust.dll
regsvr32 initpki.dll
regsvr32 dssenh.dll
regsvr32 rsaenh.dll
regsvr32 gpkcsp.dll
regsvr32 sccbase.dll
regsvr32 slbcsp.dll
regsvr32 cryptdlg.dll
Fixing Explorer Searching Rather Than Opening Directories

Sometimes after adding the right click with the Explorer, the default setting for opening a folder is changed.
To correct this:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Directory \ shell
3. Edit the default value to be explorer or none

Download reg file
Configure for Auto-Logon

If you are the only person using the computer and what to have it automatically log you on,

1. Start / Run / "control userpasswords2" - no quotes
2. Uncheck User must enter a user name and password to use this computer

Services You Can Disable

There are quite a few services you can disable from starting automatically.
This would be to speed up your boot time and free resources.
They are only suggestions so I suggestion you read the description of each one when you run Services
and that you turn them off one at a time.

Some possibilities are:

* Alerter - Sends alert messages to specified users that are connected to the server computer.
* Application Management - Allows software to tap directly into the Add/Remove Programs feature via the Windows Installer technology.
* Background Intelligent Transfer Service - The Background Intelligent Transfer service is used by programs (such as Windows AutoUpdate) to download files by using spare bandwidth.
* Clipbook - ClipBook permits you to cut and paste text and graphics over the network.
* Error Reporting Service - Allows applications to send error reports to Microsoft in the event of an application fault.
* Fast User Switching - Windows XP allows users to switch quickly between accounts, without requiring them to log off.
* Help and Support - Allows the XP Built-in Help and Support Center to run.
* IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service - You don't need this if you have other software to create CDs.
* Indexing Service - Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
* IP SEC - Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security driver. If you are not on a domain, you likely don't need this running.
* Messenger - Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This is how a lot of pop-up windows start appearing on your desktop.
* Net Logon - Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain. If you are not on a domain, you don't need this running
* Network DDE - Provides network transport and security for Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) for programs running on the same computer or on different computers.
* NT LM Security Support Provider - Provides security to remote procedure call (RPC) programs that use transports other than named pipes.
* Performance Logs and Alerts - Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. If you don't need to monitor your performance logs, then you don't need this service.
* Portable Media Serial Number - Retrieves the serial number of any portable music player connected to your computer
* QOS RSVP - Provides network signaling and local traffic control setup functionality for QoS-aware programs and control applets.
* Remote Desktop Help Session Manager - Manages and controls Remote Assistance. If you are not using Remote Desktop you don't need this service.
* Remote Registry - Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer.
* Routing & Remote Access - Offers routing services to businesses in local area and wide area network environments. Allows dial-in access.
* Secondary Login - Enables starting processes under alternate credentials. This is what allows you to run an application as another user.
* Smart Card - Manages access to smart cards read by this computer.
* Smart Card Helper - Enables support for legacy non-plug and play smart-card readers used by this computer.
* SSDP Discovery Service - Enables discovery of UPnP devices on your home network.
* TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper - Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution. This should not be needed in today's network environment.
* Telnet - Enables a remote user to log on to this computer and run programs, and supports various TCP/IP Telnet clients.
* Uninterruptible Power Supply Service - Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.
* Universal Plug and Play Device Host - Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices
* Upload Manager - Manages synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on the network.
* Volume Shadow Copy Service - Manages and implements Volume Shadow Copies used for backup and other purposes.
* Web Client - Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify non-local files across the Internet.
* Wireless Zero Configuration - Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters
* WMI Performance Adapter - Provides performance library information from WMI HiPerf providers.

Stopping the Messenger Service

To remove the ability for anyone in the world to pop up messages on your computer,
you can disable the Messenger service.

1. Click Start->Settings ->Control Panel
2. Click Performance and Maintenance
3. Click Administrative Tools
4. Double click Services
5. Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
6. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties
7. Click the STOP button
8. Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar Click OK

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