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Windows XP

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Sep. ~ Nov.: All Things Technical: The Help Desk: Windows XP users admin

Author Message
Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 4:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
OK..so I finally left my beloved ME and now have XP (so the boy can use his Ipod....am I a good mother or what??!!)
So..any tips, tricks, advice??? Do you still do scan disk and all that? Is there a system restore???

Draheid
Board Administrator

09-09-2001

Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 6:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Draheid a private message Print Post    
Texannie: First thing I would suggest specifically for you is to setup an additional user for your son to use. Set his access to 'User' level only and make sure he only uses the computer while logged in under his account.

Next I would suggest for yourself to go through and set everything to 'Windows Classic' appearance on your user or administrator account, whichever you will use most. (Keep in mind that you can not install most software or hardware unless you have administrator rights on the computer while trying to install new programs or hardware.) There are several areas to do this in so look around at the display settings, the start menu properties, etc. until you have a look and feel that you're more comfortable with. I personally think the less XP graphic effects helps the computer run just a little faster too.

Yes, there is a System Restore. Located on the 'Start - (All) Programs - Accessories - System Tools' menu. XP will create restore points
  • If you install a new application and that application's installation program is compliant with the System Restore API, which most are these days, then a new restore point will be created.
  • Installation of Microsoft security and OS updates will trigger a Restore Point creation.
  • If you choose to use system restore to restore to a previous restore point, system restore will create a new restore point prior to restoring a previous state in case something goes wrong.
  • Before a Microsoft Backup Utility Recovery operation.
  • Before installing an Unsigned driver.
  • By manually creating a new restore point.
  • By default at a 24 hour interval a new restore point will be made. This restore point will only be made if the system is in an idle state.
  • If system restore is disabled and then reenabled a new restore point will be made.


Yes, Scandisk & Defrag are also located on the System Tools menu and it is recommended to use them often.

Not sure what else you're looking for so please feel free to ask and someone is sure to answer shortly.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 9:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Dra.My spyware blocker keeps bringing up the same 3 pests. Do I have to disable system restore to run then run the program?
I have set up accounts for everyone in the family. Is there something different for me being administrator?
I didn't see scan disk, but I did defrag.
When I went into msconfig to disable some of the things in start up, it looked VERY different than I am used to!! I used to have a site bookmarked that listed what you needed and didn't need at start up.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 10:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
ok..remind me again why XP is a better program? gggggrrrrrrrrr i had to reinstall my sound. it worked fine yesterday, now, no sound. I get the following message when i try to trouble shoot an active x control on this page is not sage, your current security settings prohibit viewing unsafe controls of this page.....
When I look in add remove programs my sound program is listed but when i go to sound devises there isn't one. I try to load from the cd and all that happens the file opens, but i keep getting things in notepad.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 1:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
OK...I finally got to reinstall it. Still no sound. And now my start bar has disappeared.
grrrrrrrrrrrr

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, September 09, 2005 - 5:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
More XP questions....I don't see a scan disk option, but I do defrag. Do I do that in regular or safe mode? Do I need to disable system restore when I run an AVG virus scan? I have it set up to where we are all administrators..is that right?

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, September 09, 2005 - 6:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Another one. I keep getting a message that I need to update my Sound Blaster Live to be compatible with XP, but when I do, I lose my sound!!! I do a system restore to before the update and it comes back.

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Monday, September 12, 2005 - 5:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Skootz a private message Print Post    
bump

I am also looking for the answer to Texannie's first question of looking for scan disk on the windows XP. Where is it?

Thanks

Draheid
Board Administrator

09-09-2001

Monday, September 12, 2005 - 6:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Draheid a private message Print Post    
If you open Windows Explorer (Hold the Windows Logo key and tap 'E' or right-click on 'My Computer' then left-click on 'Explore'), right-click on the hard drive you want to check, then left-click on 'Properties' will open a dialog panel. Click on the 'Tools' tab and you will see two options. 'Error-checking' and 'Deframentation' tools, these should be what you are looking for.

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Monday, September 12, 2005 - 6:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Skootz a private message Print Post    
Thanks Dra....just what I was looking for.



Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Monday, September 12, 2005 - 6:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Thanks Skootz, wasn't sure my question was going to get answered!
So there IS a scan disk?