Real Geek Forums - Windows XP Configuration & Management

How to delete or relocate uninstalled folders

phuile — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:06:13 GMT

Having run some service packs and various Microsoft patches on XP, I
discovered that the windows folder has a large number of uninstalled
folders in it. What is the proper way to delete or relocate these
folders to archive them?

I found a Knowledge Base article on similar issues by for Win2000. I
want to know how to do this on XP.

Thanks for any help.

Recover space from Windows Indexing

phuile — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:03:33 GMT

After installing Windows Indexing, I discovered that it uses up more
than 4GB of space. I now want to disable indexing and recover the disk
space. What is the proper way of doing this?

Thanks for any help.

WMI using TFTP... why?

Ket — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:42:52 GMT

Hi all.

(I posted this in the WMI section, but realised no posts have been
replied to, so I'm guessing it's dead. Sorry for cross-posting)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem\wmiprvse.exe is trying to use C:\WINDOWS
\system32\tftp.exe to send data somewhere on all my machine in an
enterprise environment.

We use McAfee with rules to block any TFTP use, so it is not able to
do it's job.

I'm sure the machines do not have a virus, and not compromised in any
other way.
Can anyone tell me:

1) Why it is trying to TFTP?
2) How I can configure it to STOP trying to TFTP?

Thanks.

Virtual Memory Minimum Too Low

Margy — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:04:02 GMT

Thank you so much Jim. I so appreciate the advice of this wonderful knowledge
base. Looking forward to trying out all the wonderful advice when I next call
on that person.
--
Margy

"Jim" wrote:

Quote:

>
> "Margy" wrote in message
> news:8A5BD99F-0B2C-42CF-AB21-E4951ABAB418@microsoft.com...

Quote:

> > Windows XP Desktop PC with 1 gig DDR2 RAM and plenty of hard drive space.
> >
> > After upgrading the computer to 1 gig RAM the Virtual Memory Minimum Too
> > Low
> > message still comes up continutally.
> >
> > Please can anyone advise me on how to sort this out.
> > --
> > Margy
> > KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

> Taken at face value, the message means that the minimum size of the pagefile
> which you specified when you setup XP is too small. It is hard for me to
> see how this condition could be serious unless the minimum size = maximum
> size and both are too small.
> You should change the pagefile setting to "System Managed".
> Jim
>
>
>

Fixing up messed up permissions on C:

emmer — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:44:02 GMT

Repair file and registry permissions automatically:

Dial-a-fix 0.60.0.24 336 KB (Freeware)
Info: http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix#...C_and_articles
Download: http://djlizard.net.nyud.net:8080/so...v0.60.0.24.zip

Click the "Tools" button at the bottom that looks like a hammer
and select "Repair permissions" then press the "Go" button.

ju.c

"emmer" wrote in message news:E2090232-3819-4812-817D-E89BB5188260@microsoft.com...

Quote:

> Hello,
>
> I have Windows XP Professional SP3, and I just found out almost all my
> permissions on C: got messed up.
>
> I would like to know if there is some way to easily change them all. (I
> suppose it’s impossible to recover their original state.)
>
> I am considering using the method “Reset the registry and the file
> permissions” under “Advanced troubleshooting” described at
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377/en-us. Basically, using Subinacl.exe
> to change them all. Would it be the easier and most correct way to solve my
> problem? Would there be any other/better way to do that?
>
> I am not trying to install Service Pack 3, I already got it installed, I
> just want to use that method to fix my permissions up in some way.
>
> So basically that’s my problem. On my next post I’ll try to explain how and
> why I got the permissions messed up, just in case the information may be
> useful.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>

Delete a partition in XP

saltnsnails — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:51:00 GMT

If you're a novice - we all were once - you need to be very cautious
when doing disk operations. One wrong move and your computer is toast.

Removing a partition other than your system drive is done this way:

Login to an account with Administrator permissions
Start > Run > type: diskmgmt.msc > OK
Right-click on the drive letter and select 'Delete logical partition'

Warning: This will permanently delete the partition and contents. You
cannot add the partition to another partition in Windows XP. To do that,
you need to buy third-party partitioning software.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

saltnsnails wrote:

Quote:

> I am trying to delete a partition that my brother-in-law made to dump MPs on
> my computer. I have saved what music i want on a flas drive and now i want
> to delete the partition so that space can go back onto my C drive....When i
> go into disk management and i right click to delete the partition, it is
> greyed out and not an option...i tried deleting all the files on the
> partition but three of them cannot be deleted.....I am a novice to all this
> partition business.....any help would be great!
> THANKS!

Environment varibles

Jim Brown — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:59:47 GMT

Hi,

I need to define a set of env vars that point to a particular file tree like
so: APP_VER = C:\APP.1.2.3. I then use that var in other vars like so: PATH
= %APP_VER%\bin;... We changes versions quite often, and all I want to need
to do is change the value of APP_VER and the other vars change accordingly.
(I use the System Properties dialog to set the vars.)

The problem is that after a period of time, %APP_VER% gets replaced with
its value in the other vars, i.e. it gets expanded like so:
PATH=C:\APP.1.2.3\bin;...

How does that happen and what can I do to prevent the expansion?

Thank you,
Jim

What is the best registry repair utility?

Dennis_S — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:59:02 GMT

On Jan 14, 2:59*pm, Dennis_S
wrote:

Quote:

> I am looking for a good reliable registry repair utility. *Preferrably free.
>
> Anyone heard of RegCure available at cleanerror.com?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Dennis

The only "good" method of ever cleaning a XP registry is to do a fresh
install of XP and install all XP service packs / updates. Then, only
install the latest versions of the applications you use / need.

Taskbar - how to restore a 'past item'

Sprocket — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:26:01 GMT

In "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" in "Notification area" in "Customize"...
How can I move an item from "past items" back into the "current
items" area so that I can see it again?
I'd like to see "You have new mail" to always show again. Thanks!

USB external drive problem

Rick Savery — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:21:47 GMT

You'll have better luck if you connect devices to the USB ports on the
computer. If you want to use an external hub, you'll have better luck if
it's a powered hub (i.e., it does not run from the current in the USB
connection.)
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Rick Savery wrote:

Quote:

> Hi Leonard
> Thats what I thought I might have done - clumsy as I can be- but other
> external drives & an external hub aren't recognised either. That's what
> makes me think that it must be a larger problem
> Rick
>
> "Leonard Grey" wrote in message
> news:ubPYSfOdJHA.556@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

Quote:

>> A 'delayed write access' error means you removed the USB or power cable
>> before information in the cache was written to the disk. This can leave the
>> disk in an unstable state.
>>
>> If you can access the data on the disk, using the method you described, I
>> suggest you copy it to your hard drive and then format the external drive.
>> After that you can move the data back to the external drive.
>>
>> In future, use the Safely Remove Hardware procedure before disconnecting
>> your external hard drive. It's an extra step, I know, but you won't lose
>> any data.
>> ---
>> Leonard Grey
>> Errare humanum est
>>
>> Rick Savery wrote:

Quote:

>>> Hi
>>>
>>> I have a problem with an external bus-powered hard drive. It experienced
>>> a 'delayed write error' and then became invisible to Windows Explorer
>>> and, after re-booting and plugging the drive in again, it show up in
>>> Device Manager as an 'Unknown Device'.
>>>
>>> The only way I can access it - at a reduced speed - is to disable the SiS
>>> Enhanced Host Controller. However, this then means that I cannot access
>>> USB 2 devices, like my TV tuner.
>>>
>>> I have installed Windows XP SP3, which apparently includes a Hotfix for
>>> just such an issue as this, but with no joy.
>>>
>>> It has happened before, and I had to re-format my Laptop's hard drive and
>>> re-install everything, and I really don't want to do that again.
>>>
>>> I would appreciate any help or advice you can give
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Rick
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> PS I have posted this to a number of newsgroups so apologies if you see
>>> this more than once.
>>>

domain user cannot change regional and language settings

VitasLoWang — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:05:01 GMT

Some users on our domain cannot change this settings (standards and formats)
- they change it, click OK and after reopening the settings it is back! I
have tried my testing account on the same pc and I WAS able to change this
settings and it was kept for my profile. We solved this once by resetting the
user profile (deleting from server and letting it recreate from Default User
after logon), but I don't know what caused it and we have other people with
the same problem...

are in starmenue is black

Rainer Borchmann — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:34:03 GMT

Rainer Borchmann" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:e86i2yDdJHA.556@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
| Hello knows,
|
| I have a real problem after updating
| Windows, or sometimes of programs, the
| Startbuttom over the area in which the last
| programs are called BLACK.
| The behavior is erratic, but always for an update.
| The adjacent list of programs from
| (above) to the My Documents (below) does not respond to Run click
| see http://www.borchmann.de/bilder/PrtSc.JPG
|
| That remains even after a reboot it.
|
| I am grateful for every tip
|
| Rainer Borchmann
|
|

The solution is:

Solution that worked for me:

-- Right-click on the task bar
-- Clark on Properties
-- At the top, click the tab, "Start Menu"
-- Click the button, "Customize"
-- At the top, click the tab, "Advanced"
-- You will see, "Control Panel"
----- Select the, "Display as a link"
-- Click "OK" and that's it.

Hope that helps. I know this isn't exactly a solution, but more of a
work-around.

How to Remove Items from StartUp

Mijos — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:21:52 GMT

On Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:41:26 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
wrote:

Quote:

>On Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:50:02 -0800, Fishy <<*(((><@drift.net> wrote:
>

Quote:

>> My favorite way to fix this is to use a little utility called "RegCleaner"
>> (c) 1999-2001
>> Jouni Vuorio. There are several products called
>> "RegCleaner" Vuorio's is free. Using it
>> wrong can destroy your system. Sorry--I don't have the link.
>> If you can find it, very
>> carefully go to the tab called "startup items" and uncheck
>> the ones you don't like.

>
>
>That may be your favorite way, but it's certainly not mine. I am very
>strongly against using any product that "cleans" the registry. By and
>large what they do are things that aren't necessary and provide
>enormous risk of screwing up the entire system.
>

I understand your point, Ken; if you read more closely, you'll see that I never suggested
"cleaning" the registry -- just using the tool to fix msconfig. But having read the
messages that came in after mine, I think Kelly's tweak is the best fix of all.

Local Profile to Domain Profile and Bulk

Mr. JYC — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:20:00 GMT

Thank you Anteaus!

--
Thank you for your help!
JYC

"Anteaus" wrote:

Quote:

> You have your work cut-out for you. Migrating the profiles into a domain is
> an established procedure but one which involves several logons/logoffs per
> user per computer, consequently it is not a quick process.
>
> The alternative is to forget domain-membership and install MyLogon from
> http://mylogon.net - this will allow the users to logon to the server much as
> in a domain, but they will continue to use their existing profiles.
>
> Which would prove the more suitable depends on your precise requirements
> (there are several features of the AD which MyLogon cannot emulate) but there
> is no question that the latter approach will save a vast amount of work.
>
> (and yes I'm plugging my own utility, but having gone through this scenario
> more times than I can count, not to mention the similar issues with replacing
> a DC... that's why I wrote it.)
>
> "Mr. JYC" wrote:
>

Quote:

> > Hello,
> >
> > Here is my situation. I had a peer to peer network. It has to be changed
> > to a client server environment. The server would be Win2k3 R2 SP2 and Win Xp
> > workstations. About 60 machines have to join to a domain that I created on
> > the Win2k3 box. I then would have to move the local user profiles to the
> > newly created domain profiles on each machine (these are not going to be
> > roving profiles). I already figured out setting up everyone's domain
> > accounts and such.
> >
> > The questions are:
> >
> > How do I join 60 machines to a domain so that I don't have to touch any of
> > them? For instance, how would I be able to have it so that the next time a
> > user turns on a machine, that the machine would self join to a domain?
> > How do I migrate the local profiles from each machine to the newly created
> > domain profiles on each machine automatically?
> >
> > --
> >
> > Thank you for your help!
> > JYC

Spontaneous restart from hibernation?

George McKinney — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:08:16 GMT

Yep - that was the next step. Glad you got it sorted.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

George McKinney wrote:

Quote:

> Had to also go to power management tab and deselect allow wake!
> Thanks again, George
>
> "Leonard Grey" wrote in message
> news:evveO4CcJHA.4412@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

Quote:

>> Is Wake on Lan enabled for the network card?
>> ---
>> Leonard Grey
>> Errare humanum est
>>
>> George McKinney wrote:

Quote:

>>> I recently restored a three year old Compaq using "OEM restore" and
>>> brought it up to date - Home XP (SP3).
>>> It goes into hibernation OK but restarts on its own after a short
>>> while. This never happened to me before with other XP systems.
>>> Is there some setting or POWERCFG /HIBERNATE switch that would cause
>>> that?
>>>
>>> Thanks, George McKinney
>>>