Can't get into Add/Remove Programs

The Problem:-I can't get into add/remove programs, when I click on the icon, nothing happens.

Cause:-This problem may happen if Appwiz.cpl is no longer registered.

Resolution:-To resolve the problem one has to re-register Appwiz.cpl

Start>Run>regsvr32 appwiz.cpl>ok

This will bring a pop up "DllRegisterserver in appwiz.cpl succeeded" , click Ok.

Annoying empty "Custom" folder on Desktop

The Problem:- When booting my XP pro pc, I boot to a desktop that contains an empty and inactive "Custom" folder. I can close it and proceed, but it is agrivating.

Cause:- This can be caused by leftovers from cleaning up spyware.

Resolution:-

Open Control Panel>Folder Options> View tab, uncheck the line "restore
previous folder windows at logon". Click apply/ok.

Start>Tun>msconfig>ok. On the general tab select the diagnostic mode. Click
apply/ok and reboot at prompted.

The folder should not show up now. Rerun msconfig, put the system back in
normal mode. Click apply/ok and reboot once more.

To remove the entires from the registry,see:-
'How to remove Startup items from the Source'
http://hive.net/Member/forums/9283/ShowPost.aspx

Blank Device Manager

The Problem:-When you open device manager,you get nothing.It's totally blank.

Cause:-If Plug and Play service is either off or disabled then it may happen.Plug and Play Service enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input. Stopping or disabling this service will result in system instability.

Resolution:-
Start>Run>Services.msc>ok
Scroll down to Plug and Play service>Double Click on it>Make the StartUp type -Automatic>Click Ok/Apply.>Now reboot the system.

Further Reference:-
No Items Appear in the Device Manager List When You Open It
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311504

Drop down box styled Shutdown option appears.

The problem:-

When I press the red 'shutdown' button in the start
menu a new box opens up. It has a drop down box which I need to click which
now includes the options of hibernate and stand by.How do I restore the original look of my shutdown options?

Cause:-

This Win2K style shutdown option appears if the user doesn't use the Welcome Screen and Fast User Switching options.

Resolution:-

1.Open User Accounts in Control Panel.
2.Click Change the way users log on or off.
3.Use Welcome Screen and Use Fast User Switching.
4.Apply options.

Further Reference:-
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ua_logon_at_welcome_page_w.mspx

How to clear entries from "Open with" menu

When you right click on a file you get an Open With menu option,which provides a list of programs for you to open the file with.This list changes along with the type of file you're clicking. This list can get long,and there may be those programs which are not applicable to open with those at all.

Resolution:-To clear those unwanted entries do the following:-
Start>Run>Regedit>Ok

Now navigate to the following location:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts. Look for the file extension whose Open With list you want to edit and find its OpenWithList subkey-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.x\OpenWithList
[.x=any .file extn;eg.bmp]
The subkey will have an alphabetical list of String values.Delete the entry which you don't want.

How To Chkdsk an external USB drive

Open Command Prompt and there you type:-

chkdsk X: and press the Enter Key.
[where X=your external USB Drive letter]

BCUpdate2.exe

This is a great tool which helps to resolve the fault that occurs when the MFT (master file table) on a NTFS partition becomes fragmented. It updates the boot code of the NTFS boot sector.

When to use:-When messages like- "Cannot locate NTLDR" or "Cannot load NTLDR into memory" or,"NTLDR missing" keeps comming up.

How to use:-
1]Download the utility.
2]Create a boot floppy disk.See:-
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305595/#XSLTH3131121122120121120120
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994/EN-US/
3]Boot from the disk and then run the utility from the command line against the affected drive:-
a:\bcupdate.exe c:

Download:-

bcupdate.exe

Click here to get bcupdate2.exe


References:-
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=228734
http://www.protostorm.com/bcupdate2.html

How To Confirm Whether I have USB 2.0 Installed In My Machine

All the following methods will confirm whether you have USB 2.0 installed in your machine or not.
First method:-

Start>Run>type Devmgmt.Msc>ok
In the Device Manager expand the Universal Serial Bus section. There should be an "Enhanced" USB host controller present.

Second method:-

Start>Run>Regedit>ok
Now navigate to the following key:-
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB20
The presence of the above registry key seems to indicate USB 2.0

Third method:-

Run this direct edit:- Test for USB 2 (Line 330, right column)http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Restore missing shortcuts under the System Tools

If we open System Tools present under the All Programs>Accessories>System Tools we find there are several system tools like - Backup,Character Map, Disk Cleanup,Disk Defragmenter - Files and Setting Transfer Wizard Security Center, System Information, Schedule tasks,System Restore,Acivate Windows.

The problem:-The above shortcuts are missing under the system tools.

Resolution:-To recreate those missing shortcuts do the following:-

Right click on desktop>New>Shortcut.
In the blank box type the following :-

%SystemRoot%\system32\ntbackup.exe then click Next and give a name to the shortcut-Backup and click Finish.

Like wise create shortcuts for the followings:-

Character Map - %SystemRoot%\system32\charmap.exe
Disk Cleanup - %SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe
Disk Defragmenter - %SystemRoot%\system32\dfrg.msc
Files and Setting Transfer Wizard - %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\usmt\migwiz.exe
Security Center - %SystemRoot%\system32\wscui.cpl
System Information - C:\PROGRAM FILES\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe
Scheduled Tasks-%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
System Restore - %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
Activate Windows-%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /A

Now open Windows Explorer>Expand My Computer>Expand 'C' Drive>Documents and settings>Local User Name>Start Menu>Programs>Accessories>Click on System Tools.

Now copy and paste the above created shortcuts in the System Tools folder.

How To Remove stored .NET Entries

A .NET Passport uses your e-mail address to provide you with personalized access to Passport-enabled services and Web sites.
To remove the stored user names and passwords:-

Method#1

Start>Run>Control Userpasswords2 >ok
Now Click the Advanced tab of User Accounts window.
Click Manage passwords tab under Advanced option.
Highlight the .NET entry you want to remove and click Remove tab.Close and Click Ok.

Method#2

Start>Run>Control keymgr.dll>ok
Remove the .NET entry.Click Close.

Event Log File is Corrupt

The Problem:-
When you click Application or,System under the Event Viewer present within the Administrative Tools you get an error:- Event Log File is Corrupt.

Why does it happen?
If one or more of your log files is corrupt it happens.

Resolution:-
Method#1
1.Open the Event Viewer.
2.Rightclick on the corrupt log in the left pane and click Properties.
3.Click the Clear button in the Properties dialog box.

Method#2
1.Highlight the specific Event (Application or System).
2.Click the Action present in the Event Viewer menu and then click Clear all events.

Spell Checking in Internet Explorer

ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that spell checks text input boxes on a webpage. It should come in particularly handy for users who do a lot of web-based text entry (e.g. web mails, forums, blogs, diaries). Even if your web application already includes spell checking functionality, you might still want to install this utility because it is definitely much faster than a server-side solution. Plus you get to store and use your personal word list across all your applications, instead of maintaining separate ones on each application.
The program installs as a new button in the IE toolbar (as well as a new menu item under "Tools") - after filling in a form, just hit the ieSpell button and it pops up a dialog, similar to the MS Word spell check. ieSpell also works (right-click menu only) on other IE based browsers such as SlimBrowser, CrazyBrowser, MSN, MyIE, etc.

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