http://www.bootdisk.com/ 090 June 2003
The BootLIST Welcome to the 90th edition of The BootLIST
INDEX
1) Disable Not Needed Services In XP For Speed
2) New Hardware Install Causing XP To Close
3) Dupe Copy Protected CDs
4) Add/Remove Drives From SendTo In XP
5) MS's Q811493 Patch Fixed
6) Need To Keep Yahoo/Private Mail In Separate Folders
7) Give Your Eyes A Break
8) XP Cryptographic Service Causing Problems
9) Switched PCs, Need To Activate XP On New One
10) Odds And Ends
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1) Disable Not Needed Services In XP For Speedaretired writes - I have WinXP Pro, Intel P4 1.7 I would like to remove the un needed services. I am using my pc as stand alone with internet connection/cable. No remote assistance. Is there a place where I could find a listing of services that could be disabled without causing any harm?
*** And a similar question from a past newsletter:Jim W. asks - I just got a new Dell P4 2.26 gb, 512 mb ram, windows XP home, nic card, DSL, and I am really disappointed with the initial load time. I have disabled almost all the background applications in startup and have only a handful of icons on my screen. I wait for the hour glass to disappear from my desk top which occurs very quickly (approx. 20 seconds) and it appears that everything is loaded and when I try and click on an icon nothing happens for about 1 to 2 minutes, then suddenly all the previously clicked icons pop up. I have never had a system that was so slow in loading. I hate to think of what it will be like when I load all my programs and devices. I have a P4 866 that is faster. Of course dell says everything is fine. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Kelly suggests a plan:
To disable unneeded startup services for a safer, faster XP, use the "Services" Admin Tool (Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services).If you are a single user of a non-networked machine, you can disable the following items, with no ill effect.
Alerter
Clipbook
Computer Browser
Fast User Switching
Human Interface Access Devices
Indexing Service (Slows the hard drive down)
Messenger
Net Logon (unnecessary unless networked on a Domain)
Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
Remote Procedure Call Locator
Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
Routing & Remote Access (disabled for extra security)
Server
SSDP Discovery Service ("Universal P'n'P", & leaves TCP Port 5000 wide open)
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Telnet (disabled for extra security)
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Upload Manager
Windows Time
Wireless Zero Configuration (for wireless networks)
Workstation
*** This site is often recommended by tech folks and goes into the subject in MUCH more detail:
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
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2) New Hardware Install Causing XP To CloseCurt wrote - I recently installed some new hardware / software such as a printer and scanner. I now am getting a "Generic Host process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close" error when I do almost anything. Any suggestions? I am not good with this type of issue!
purplehaz03 suggests:
Put the xp cd in the cd drive. Goto: start, run, type in: sfc /scannow (space between c and /), hit enter. XP will find and replace system files [that may have been overwritten by your new driver installs].
*** Using system restore is another option.XP Home System Restore:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/howto/gethelp/systemrestore.asp XP Pro System Restore:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/gethelp/systemrestore.aspOr, one may do a Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htmA good tip when adding new hardware is to "do it one step at a time". First, install the hardware and DRIVERS only as a first step and see if all is OK. Then you can start adding the multitudes of extra software that always come on hardware driver disks, if you want. This way you can pinpoint what specific driver or application is the root of a new problem.
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3) Dupe Copy Protected CDsAndrew asks - I'm tired of my kids breaking CDs and then having to go buy new ones as my cd burning program doesn't copy most of my kids cds. I was told this was due to copy protection. Any help?
*** Clone CD is a copy program that works 98% of the time:http://www.elby.ch/en/products/clone_cd/
Copy Protection Detection, more than a tad outdated, but an interesting util:
http://www.pctip.ch/downloads/dl/17291.asp
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4) Add/Remove Drives From SendTo In XPSteve inquires - How can I remove some of the DRIVES from the 'Send to' menu in WinXP. The drives are not listed in the users send to folder, or in the All users send to folder.
Hugh L. answers:
Or type this into Start | Run:"sendto" (without the quotes)
That idea came from here:
310270 - How to Add/[Remove] Items to the "Send To" Menu in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310270Failing all of the previous methods, you *should* be able to use this piece of software to add/remove items to/from the SendTo menu:
http://www.gabrieleponti.com/software/#sendtotoys
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5) MS's Q811493 Patch FixedFrom a previous issue:
Wind asks - Has anyone heard anything about a patch or update #811493 causing problems with WinXP systems? [My system has been running as slow as a 486 is this update the reason why?]
*** The fix if you had the "major slowdown" problem was to uninstall the update. As of May 28, 2003 it appears that Microsoft has fixed the problem. Details on the issue are at this just updated webpage:
http://www.updatexp.com/q811493.html
Related:
http://www.updatexp.com/q815021-q811493.html
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6) Need To Keep Yahoo/Private Mail In Separate Foldersshawnsara needs to know - I am using Outlook Express XP. How can I create two separate local folders one for my yahoo mail and one for my private mail. Currently both mail messages gets downloaded in one local folder's Inbox.
Ronnie V. answers:
You simply need to create a new folder (File/Folder/New) and give it a descriptive name.Next select Tools/Message Rules/Mail. Click the New button and in the Conditions section click the "Where the To line contains people" option. In the Actions section, click the "Move it to the specified folder" option.
In the Description section, select the "Contains people" link, type in your email address and click Add/OK. Now click the "Specified" link and point it to the folder you just created. Click Apply/OK.
All of the email for the account you specified in the rule will automatically be placed in the new folder you created.
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7) Give Your Eyes A BreakVector N. writes - I just wanted to throw out this tip which I have found MANY people do not have turned on in XP.
Right click on your desktop, this brings up the display properties, click on the 'appearance' tab, and go down and click on the 'effects' button. The 2nd check box down should be checked where it says "use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts". In the drop down menu under that line of text, select "clear type". Apply the changes.
I have noticed that a lot of people are not using this and to me anyway, it makes a HUGE difference the way fonts are displayed. Using clear type, the fonts are sharp and detailed. Maybe this does nibble a few more resources but, if you spend a lot of time in front of that monitor like I do, it is worth it. I wouldn't dream of not using it.
James M. adds:
It really makes a difference on laptops, almost worth the price of WinXP alone.
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8) XP Cryptographic Service Causing Problemsbetty asks - Where can I find out if cryptographic service is on or off on my computer. When I try to install updates I get a [cryptographic error message]. This update stuff is getting to be a pain. I haven't been able to get updates for weeks. Thanks for any help.
Kelly suggests:
Go to Start/Run and type in CMD. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each line:net stop cryptsvc
ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 oldcatroot2
net start cryptsvcThis will correct the error message. Other options listed here under updates:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm
*** When you reboot a new, clean, catroot2 folder will be created.
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9) Switched PCs, Need To Activate XP On New OneAlex inquires - I recently bought a single user license for XP, and installed it on a computer that I later discovered was incompatible with much of the XP software. So, I uninstalled XP on that workstation, and when I installed it on a new workstation, it wouldn't let me Activate, because the key had been used before. BY ME!! How can I 'deactivate' the license so that XP will work on my new workstation? Any help is appreciated.
Nicholas explains:
One cannot "deactivate" Windows XP. You need to select the "activate by telephone" option and obtain a new activation code from Microsoft. [Takes about 10 minutes].
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10) Odds And EndsDebbie F. asks - Every time I contact to Outlook express the internet disconnects itself. It is fine if I am on the web but as soon as I change over it disconnect. What changes do I need to make.
Boomer says:
Try this: In OE go to Tools | Options | Connections tab and Uncheck 'Hangup after sending and receiving'. Then click Apply.Unk suggests:
From OE, click Tools, Options, "Connections" tab, check the box, "Ask before switching dial-ip connections", click "Apply". Now click the "Change" button and check the box, "Dial whenever a network connection is not present", "Apply", and "OK" your way out of the options.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
VCom asks - I wanted to know if anyone has tried to use Windows XP Home OEM to upgrade from Win98SE? Is it even possible, or does one have to purchase the "Retail Version" to upgrade.
Ralph Wade P. replies:
The Retail Upgrade is the only official upgrade. The OEM version will want to wipe the drive and install from scratch. Of course if this is what you WANT to do.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
jarh asked - Need to know how to increase the maximum number of open files on MS-DOS based applications using windows XP?
Tom L. answers:
Put the statement FILES=xx in CONFIG.NT which is in WINDOWS\SYSTEM32. xx is the number of files you want.
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