Why not give a second life to Windows XP ?

Written on September 4, 2008 by Kay

It speaks volumes when every tech writer suggests keeping XP if you’re thinking of doing Vista, or downgrading to XP from Vista if you’re buying a new PC. It’s only natural for Microsoft to invest more time and energy in their new Vista OS, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on XP. XP’s interface may be as polished as Vista’s fluid, smooth GUI, and you may notice as more time passes the more sluggish XP seems to run. But there are plenty of ways to give your XP system a new spring in its step.

There’s one caveat: you may be required to do some registry editing to make these tips work. It’s very easy to toast your system by deleting or editing a wrong key in the registry, so make sure that you back up your registry before you start working on it.

Improvement Over Explorer

For such a common computing function, it baffles me why Windows Explorer makes it such a hassle to copy or move folder/files. More often than not, I find myself opening up a completely separate instance of Explorer just to move or copy a file to the first instance. Tabbed file browsing would most definitely be a wise addition to Explorer.

If you’re fed up with Windows’ default Explorer file manager, then you can download a copy of Q-Dir, a file management application that overshadows Explorer tenfold. The four windows that Q-Dir presents on its main window makes it incredibly easy to shuttle your folders and files to and fro across your vast hard drives. Assign different hues to different file types to easy distinguish between them. Q-Dir is such a cool file management program that once you’ve installed it and given it a test drive you’ll won’t go back to Explorer again.

Tweaking Explorer

Maybe replacing Explorer isn’t your thing; you can still tweak out Explorer , making it more friendly and intuitive. Right-clicking on a folder or file within Explorer materializes a context menu that contains many useful options. To avoid opening up several instances of Explorer for drag-and-drop file operations, you can add a “Copy To Folder” and “Move To Folder” options to the content menu, allowing you to browse your hard drive to select a destination directory to complete the file operation. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open up the Run dialog box and type and run “regedit” to pull up the registry editor.

2. Navigate to “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\ shellex\ContextMenuHandlers”.

3. Select Edit, New, Key to make a new key; name it “Copy To” and make its value “{C2FBB630-2971-11d1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}”.

4. Next, create another key, naming it “Move To” and set its value to “{C2FBB631-2971-11d1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}”.

Exit the registry and you should see the changes take effect right away; verify this by pulling up the context menu on several files and folders and you should see the new menu options.

Command Prompt Context

It may not seem like it, but sometimes you can accomplish various computing tasks faster and more efficiently via the command-line prompt. And if you’re savvy to a little shell scripting code, the command-line prompt soon becomes a very powerful tool for automating your tasks, offloading the manual work to your computer. If you use the command-line prompt a lot, you’ll want to integrate it into Explorer, so you can pull up a prompt by right-clicking any folder and choosing the option from the context menus.

1. Fire up Explorer

2. Navigate to Tools, Folder Options and select the File Types tab.

3. Highlight NONE Folder and push the Advanced button; next, select New.

4. Type “Command Prompt” in the Action text box.

5. Type “cmd.exe” in the “Application used to perform action” text box.

The changes should take effect right away, but be aware that the menu option only shows up when you right-click folders, not files.

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Overcoming Windows crashes and the Blue Screen of Death

Written on August 22, 2008 by Kay

It’s hard not to panic when Windows dumps the mysterious blue screen in your face. It doesn’t happen often, in my experience, but when blue screens rear their annoying heads and other vexing issues arise there a few steps one should apply to restore their PC’s health and one’s sanity.

Many users have been confronted with the puzzling BSoD at some time or another—Blue Screen Of Death. Cryptic white text on a blue background is what Windows expels when it encounters an error it cannot recover from. The most depressing effect of a BSoD is that any unsaved data you were working on will most likely be discarded upon reboot. BSoDs can be tricky issues to fix, and most of the time the only thing to do is reboot your machine and hope a repeat performance doesn’t occur.

If you reboot your PC and you’re faced with another BSoD, take out any hardware you might’ve installed prior to Windows’ crashing, rebooting once again. If Windows boots normally, you’ve isolated the problem component; try physically uninstalling/installing the hardware along with its software drivers and see if this solves the issue. Have you installed any software you might suspect is causing the crash? Try booting into safemode and removing the program from your system; consult your manual for how to get into safemode, but it can usually be accessed by pressing one of the function keys when booting your PC.

Blue Screens many look enigmatic and scary, but they actually contain useful information that can guide you in the direction of getting your PC back up and running. Write down the text Windows spits out when it crashes and reboot your ailing computer. Ask Google about the BSoD text that was displayed; chances are that other users have experienced the same issues as you and have solutions.

Software drivers act as middle-man between your hardware components and Windows. Because drivers must have an introspective relationship with Windows, it’s easier for a badly written driver to wreak havoc, brining the system to its knees. Windows is a dumb beast, and it’ll execute badly written code with as must zeal as code that plays well. If you suspect a newly installed or updated driver is the culprit, roll the misbehaving driver back to a previous working version; reverse the process if you think the opposite—install the latest driver’s version if you think an older version is to blame.

Bad Memory

Faulty RAM modules can often cause BSoDs. Download Memtest 86, a utility that performs tests on your memory. Memtest must be booted from a CD, being that it isn’t a Windows program, so Windows can’t be running simultaneously. Use Nero or any other burn program that can handle .ISO files to create the Memest86 boot disc.

Too Hot

Make sure your PC is well ventilated; an overheated PC is liable to blue screen if not cooled down. Clear out all your PC’s air vents of dust and debris; open up your PC’s case and clean the fans, making sure they can move freely of dust and dirt buildup. A can of compressed air makes the job of tight crevice cleaning easier.

Registry Issues

If the Registry gets messed up, things get chaotic. A corrupted Registry has the potential to blue screen Windows without  warning. Use System Restore to revert your Registry to a
prior, stable state or use a premium registry program like PC Doc Pro which includes access to live support.

BSoDs are frustrating to rectify, but when you retrace your steps and follow the above advice, you’ll have your PC back in commission in no time.

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How to revitalize an aging notebook or laptop

Written on August 2, 2008 by Kay

I can still recall my first notebook like it was yesterday. It
was a clunky, behemoth affair, with a 486 CPU and 32 megabytes
of memory; Windows 3.1 made the notebook’s hardware come alive,
and, of course, crash at the worst possible moment (when is an
opportune time for a system crash, anyway?). External storage
was limited to floppy diskettes—unreliable things, they are—and
there wasn’t a CD-ROM drive.

I once attempted to install a Linux distribution via an
external CD-ROM drive that connected to the notebook’s parallel
port; of course, there weren’t any software drivers written at
the time to support my external CD-ROM drive, so the effort and
frustration was all for naught.

Before I pumped up my notebook’s performance, by the standards
of today’s latest laptop offerings, my ancient Toshiba notebook
ran like lava: it got very hot with extended hours of use and
moved just as slow. And Windows 3.1 wasn’t exactly a joy to
interact with either, the messy soup of code it is.
All in all, the entire notebook revitalization project only cost
me around $100; I still can’t believe I purchased this notebook
for $3000 when it was a hot item. Since I did all the upgrades
myself, I saved a lot compared to what it would cost to replace
with a cutting-edge laptop.

While I used one of my other old notebooks (an older IBM
ThinkPad) as a model for this article, these upgrade steps will
apply to just about any notebook, as I’ve tried to keep the
steps involved generalized. As always, exercise caution and
back up all your data before doing any upgrades.

More Workspace: More Memory

Ask any hardware geek and they’ll tell you one of the cheapest,
fastest and simplest methods for improving the efficiency of
your computer is to add more system memory. Back in the old
days, 16 megabytes of RAM may have sufficed to accommodate
Windows 3.1 (I think 2 megabytes was the minimum), but XP and
Vista scoff at this paltry memory amount.

Upon inspection, I discovered that my ThinkPad has a single slot
for a memory module (PC2700). I’ve always been a fan of having
a lot of RAM, so I bumped it up from 512 megs to 1 gig. The 1
gigabyte of PC2700 cost me around $80 USD at the time of this
writing.

If you haven’t already, shut down your notebook, removing the
battery afterward. Locate the little door at the bottom where
the system memory resides; once the cover is removed, ease the
new memory module into its slot. Use kid gloves when handling
memory, so don’t force it if it doesn’t want to sit flush right
off the bat.

A good tip is to use the soft eraser at the end of a pencil to
set the module into place; it’s delicate enough so that you can
use a little pressure to get it in there, but it won’t break
anything or damage the circuitry.

If you are not unsure of the type of computer memory that is
compatible with your notebooks, try Crucial’s memory scanner
which eliminates all the guess work. Plus they have great
options for all upgrades that are available.

A Faster, Spacious Hard Drive

The meager 20 gigabyte hard drive that came stock with my
notebook just won’t cut it anymore. You can now carry more
storage in your pocket in the form of a flash drive or iPod.
When deciding on a new hard drive, consider the trade-off
between performance versus battery life and cost: a speedy
7,200 rpm hard drive will probably blow up your budget and
drain your battery life much faster. If you want a happy
medium between power and performance, go with a 5,400 rpm
drive.

Make sure you back up all your data before attempting to install
a new hard drive. After you’ve your backup data in a safe
place, unscrew the side cover and slide out the old hard drive.
Install the new hard drive and secure its screws. Since your
new pristine hard drive hasn’t any operating system, an
excellent OS choice for older hardware is Linux, a free
operating system that does wonders with older, slower
hardware.

A New Keyboard

I admit it; I sometimes type and eat, and I even do this
simultaneously on occasion. Do this long enough and your
keyboard starts to resemble the kitchen floor of some fast food
joint. Also, it shouldn’t take 10 pounds of pressure just to
get the “E” key to register a hit; I don’t like having to punch
my keyboard.

Replacing your laptop’s keyboard is a cakewalk. Query Google on
keyboard replacements for your model; you should get a lot of
results. Look underneath your notebook for screws that are
designated with a keyboard logo. Unscrew these and your
keyboard should become loose; next, remove the keyboard cable
from the motherboard. Plug in the new cable, situate your new
keyboard and screw it back in. If upon reboot you get a
warning from Windows, check to make sure that your keyboard
cable is completely plugged in and making contact.

An old notebook doesn’t have to be relegated to an expensive
paper weight. With a little time, research and a small budget,
you can turn that 10 year old notebook running Windows 98 into
a slick Linux machine with double the memory and a vast amount
of hard drive space.

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What is the registry and why do you need to care

Written on July 20, 2008 by Kay

So many times people hear the term ‘windows registry’ and are familiar with the term, but rarely understand it’s inner workings and it’s importance to the Windows operating system. The Windows registry is in a slang term referred to as the ‘backbone’ of Windows. This in essence is true, but also not the sole factor in the function of the operation of Windows itself. There are many processes (programs or services) which run that make the operating system possible and workable. The registry however we will focus on for this discussion.

The registry consists of a structure containing what are called keys and values. These keys and values control how programs and system software’s function, operate and allow the computer user to control many aspects of system manipulation, preference and even performance. So what are keys and values? Keys and values are similar to folders and files. Although they typically do not function with the same properties as them, registry keys contain values and those values contain data. This data within these key values can have many different settings or configurations to allow software to function correctly. Such examples of key value data could be folder path locations for software executables, batch files, command files, binary or hexadecimal values, dynamic link library files and much more. These types of data configurations in registry key values are of the utmost importance for software to operate and in a lot of cases, system critical dependant. Without these keys and values the system would not function, software would not work and it would be one big headache of system or program failure.

The reason the registry is referred to as ‘the backbone of windows’ is obvious and apparent. The registry is a complex set of variables and configurations which allow the system files and software to interact and function with each other to create a stable environment for the user to perform even the simplest of tasks. Take the Windows Calculator for instance. Though this program is very simple and not of high complexity, it relies on registry keys and values from other system critical components of the operating system and registry to function in turn allowing calculator to work with its own program files, registry keys and values.

As you can see the Windows registry is and can be a very complex set of operations and structure. Although it can be quite intimidating and complicated, familiarizing oneself with its inner workings and purpose can be a huge step in understanding, securing the system and maintaining its performance. Though these things can be done, it is extremely important to know what you are changing in the registry before making alterations. By doing such will minimize the possibility of damaging the operating system and making it entirely unrecoverable in some cases. Always make a backup of the registry before you take any action regardless of how insignificant you may think something may be. Even the simplest alteration can cause devastating result.

So how do you back up the registry? It is very simple and a fairly quick and painless process really.

To make a backup:

1.) Click on Start (on the taskbar).

2.) Then click on Run.

3.) In the run dialog box, type regedit and press the enter key.

4.) Regedit should appear now. From within the registry editor, click on My Computer. This will make it so the entire registry is backed up because all of the registry keys fall under the My Computer tree/folder structure.

5.) Next, click on File and select Export…

6.) You will be prompted to save the registry backup to a location on your hard disk. Select a location, type a name for the file in the ‘File Name’ text field and click save.

You have now created a full registry backup, woohoo!

Well what if I don’t want to back up the entire registry and only a portion of it or a key? To do so, follow the same instructions as above except right click on the registry key to choose Export…

Almost anything you may want to know about the windows registry can be found within the registry editor help. So, if you find yourself having difficulty understanding things, you can always look at the documentation to get a better idea of what something does.

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Goodbye to Bill Gates and Windows XP, you will be missed

Written on June 30, 2008 by Kay

by Kay Brenner

We might have said goodbye to Bill Gates last week as he departed from Microsoft, but another legend is retiring today. After seven years of service, Windows XP is being withdrawn from sale.

The news comes as a big disappointment to those of who have come to trust the system, which we have grown to love and still favor over the troublesome Microsoft Vista. Since its release, the average user has spent 8000 hours in front of their PCs connected to the Internet.

If you are not prepared to go down the path of upgrading to Windows Vista, what are you options after the cut-off date other than switching to Mac OS X or Linux?

Tech Support For Your XP Problems

There is some hope that Windows will continue to offer support for the numerous technical issues that users face everyday with XP, until 2014. However, support may just be the bare minimum and difficult to get hold of.

You may want to purchase a premium tech support service to get around this problem or purchase software to keep your registry in tact. Or you can search on tech forums as there is a good chance if you have a problem that other users will also have the same problem far easier than asking Microsoft for support

XP On Brand New Machines

If you have your heart set out for a XP after the deadline , you will still be able to purchase a machine with it preinstalled despite Microsoft’s cut off date.

PC manufacturers who have an inventory of unused XP licenses will still be able to sell machines with XP and the same also goes for other PC retailers as well who have surplus stock to sell.

Juggling Operating Systems

Downgrade rights are the second way for you to get your hands on a new computer with XP. If a manufacturer has downgrade rights from Microsoft, they’ll be able to sell you a PC that started on Vista, but which they downgraded to XP before they sold it to you.

If this is the case, you’ll be supplied with the discs for XP and it’s drivers, as well as the same discs for Vista, so you can re-upgrade at a later date if you decide to. Dell have confirmed that they will make this option open to customers, but it only lasts out until January 31st next year.

‘Limited Hardware Capabilities’

The final way you’re going to be able to get XP is by purchasing a computer with what Microsoft refers to as having ‘limited hardware capabilities,’ a solution which is open until June 2010. This is basically a machine that can’t handle the enormous demands of Vista, so has to run XP instead, and includes laptops with low power CPUs, and low cost desktop PCs which have slow processors, not much RAM, and no separate processor for graphics.

Not the End of the Road for XP

Windows XP still has many more years ahead of it, even if Microsoft wants everyone to upgrade to Vista or its successor. XP support is likely to extend well into the next decade allowing us enough time to get used to the idea.

Kay Brenner is a Faster computer expert who restores slow PCs, saving you from the hassles of struggling with a slow PC. To learn how to avoid computer problems, download a free PC Fix

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