If you get an error that NTLDR is not found during bootup

If you have FAT32 partitions, it is much simpler than with NTFS. Just boot with a Win98
floppy and copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files from the i386 directory to the root
of the C:\ drive.

For NTFS:

1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.

2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of
Windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1
4. Enter in the administrator password when requested
5. Enter in the following commands (X: is replaced by the actual drive letter that
is assigned to the CD ROM drive)

• COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C\:

• COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:\

6. Take out the CD and type exit

NTOSKRNL Missing or Corrupt

If you get an error that NTOSKRNL not found:

1. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.

2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of
Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
4. Change to the drive that has the CD ROM.
5. CD i386
6. expand ntkrnlmp.ex_ C:\Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe
7. If WindowsXP is installed in a different location, just make the necessary
change to C:\Windows

8. Take out the CD ROM and type exit

HAL.DLL Missing or Corrupt

If you get an error regarding a missing or corrupt hal.dll file, it might simply be the
BOOT.INI file on the root of the C: drive that is misconfigured

1. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.

2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of
Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
4. Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file
5. Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it
6. Take out the CD ROM and type exit

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If you get the error:

Windows could not start because the following files is missing or corrupt
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM or \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE

1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.

2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation
of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
4. Enter in the administrator password when requested
5. cd \windows\system32\config
6. Depending on which section was corrupted:
ren software software.bad or ren system system.bad
7. Depending on which section was corrupted
copy \windows\repair\system
copy \windows\repair\software
8. Take out the CD ROM and type exit

A file that is required to run search companion cannot be found. You

may need to run setup.

This is usually caused by connecting to your ISP while the Search Companion is open.
This problem is found in the Windows XP English language versions only.

Possible Solution:

Reinstall the Search Companion Files:

1. Log on to the computer by using an account with administrator permissions.

2. Click Start>> Run. Type in: %systemroot%\inf [Enter]
 3. Scroll the resulting list and locate the Srchasst.inf file. If it doesn't seem to be
listed, try adjusting your folder options to view hidden files and folders in
Windows Explorer:

• Open Explorer>>Tools>>Folder Options>> View tab.

• Tick the "Show hidden files and folders" entry.
• Apply the change and exit Explorer.

4. Right-click the Srchasst.inf file, and then click Install. Windows will now attempt
to install the Search Companion files.

Note: You may be prompted for the Windows XP CD to complete the installation so
please have it ready.

If this continues to occur after disconnecting from the Internet, it may be caused by
corrupted files that have been cached. I have the three possible files that may be
causing this listed below. Open them in notepad so that you can determine the source
of the corruption.

• Balloon.xsl
• Bar.xsl
• Lclsrch.xml

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My system shows I am missing some files, how can I replace them?

If you are missing files of a Windows component, then you can run the System File
Checker. Windows File Protection only monitors and maintains XP system components.
If it is a 3rd party application, you may need to reinstall that application to restore the
missing files.

Method #1:

To run Windows System File Checker:

Go to Start>> Run, type in: sfc /scannow [Enter]

Windows may require you to insert your XP CD.

Method #2:

You can also use System Restore to recover your system back to date before the files
were missing. To activate System Restore:
Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> System Restore.

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Cannot access Add/Remove Window Components in Control Panel

Problem:

"I get an error message: Setup was unable to open information file netoc.inf. Contact
your system administrator."

I am the sys admin.

Possible Solution:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD

2. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: Expand C:\i386\NETOC.IN_ -rC:\Windows\Inf
[Enter]

Note: C:\ is used if that is where Windows XP is installed.

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Files with .exe extension will not open

Question:

When trying to launch an application, I receive an error that states it cannot find the
.exe file. It would open fine yesterday.

Answer:

Most likely, you have a virus that has made your .exe file associations corrupt. By
downloading the following file, it will automatically reset your .exe associations back
to their default settings in the Windows Registry.

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Missing Programs in All Programs Menu

Question:

I have a workstation that has an "empty" All Programs menu. The user of the
workstation cannot tell me what has caused the issue, only that the program listings
have suddenly disappeared. The programs themselves are still on the computer, they
just will not display in All Programs. How can I fix this?

Answer:

It is possible that a parasite of some sort has caused the issue. You should scan for
viruses and adware/malware as a precaution. I recommend the following scanners:

Adaware SE
AVG Anti-Spyware
AVG Virus Scan

To restore your programs to the All Programs menu, try this:

Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regsvr32 /i shell32.dll [Enter] or click OK.

Restart Windows.

Your programs should now be restored to the All Programs menu

Help and Support link in Start Menu not working

If you are trying to access the Help and Support Center via a link in the Start Menu but
an error message that states: "Cannot find helpctr.exe" is produced. This quite
possibly is an App Paths issue. To restore the App Paths value for helpctr.exe,
download the following Registry fix:

File Name: Helpfix

Instructions for use:

1. Download the above registry file to your desktop.

2. Double click the Registry file
3. Select Run
4. Merge the file with your registry.

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When running the troubleshooter in Help and Support I receive the following
error message; "An ActiveX control on this page is not safe." How can I fix
this?

If you are trying to use one of Help and Support's listed troubleshooters to fix a
specific issue, you may receive the following error message:

An ActiveX control on this page is not safe.

Your current security settings prohibit running unsafe controls on this page.

As a result, this page may not display as intended.

A known work-a-round for this issue is to change a setting in Internet Explorers

Internet Zone. Here's how:

1. Open Internet Explorer

2. Go to Tools>> Internet Options
3. Click the Security tab.
4. Under "Security level for this zone", click the Custom Level button.
5. Scroll the "Settings" list to find an entry titled: "Initialize and script ActiveX
controls not marked as safe"
6. Once you've found the above entry title, tick the "Enable" entry. Click OK.
7. Exit all windows.
8. Attempt the Help and Support troubleshooter once again.
9. When you have successfully completed the troubleshooting task, go back in to
Internet Explorer Security Zone and change the above setting back to
"Disable".

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Can I password protect certain files and folders?

You can password protect compressed (zipped) folders in Windows XP. Follow the
instructions outlined in the MSKB article below:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306531&sd=tech

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DLLuser32.dll Error Message

Error Message states:

The system DLLuser32.dll was relocated in memory. The application will not run
properly. The relocation occurred because the DLL C:\windows\system32\HHCTRL.OCX
occupied an address range reserved for windows system DLLs. The vendor supplying
the DLL should be contacted for a new DLL.

Fix:

Windows last update and having REALTEC audio in a system makes this happen. To
remedy this, run Hotfix KB935448 from Microsoft.

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What Are the New SP2 Features?

Not all of the New Features are listed below, for more information on Service Pack 2,
refer to the Microsoft Article:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) contains:

• Enhanced Security
• Safer E-Mail Handling
• Enhanced Browser Security
• Easier Wireless Networking

Enhanced Security:

Service Pack 2 contains significant security enhancements, including the following:

• Improved Windows Firewall: active for every network connection by default, but
easily configurable.
 • Improved protection against computer attacks that use the remote procedure
call (RPC), like the Blaster worm.
• Microsoft Security Center: A feature of Service Pack 2 that allows users to
manage all aspects of their computer's security in a single window, including
firewall and antivirus configuration.

Safer E-Mail Handling:

Service Pack 2 contains enhancements to Microsoft Outlook Express, which

automatically block e-mail attachments that are known to be dangerous. Outlook
Express also blocks images contained in HTML messages, until you determine whether
or not you trust the source.

Enhanced Browser Security:

With Service Pack 2, Internet Explorer gets an automatic pop-up advertisement

blocker. The first time you visit a web site that uses pop-up advertising, you are
prompted to specify a level of pop-up blocking for the site.

Easier Wireless Networking:

Service Pack 2 also includes some changes to the wireless networking interface. These
changes are designed to make it easier to understand which wireless networks are
available, what kind of security is configured for them, and how strong each
connection

Identify Processes in Svchost.exe

Question:

There are a number of processes running under SVCHOST.EXE in the taskmanager.

How can I determine what they are running?

Answer:

-Windows XP Pro only-

Svchost.exe was created to check the services that must run each time the system is
started. Svchost.exe is located here:

%SystemRoot%\System32 folder

It is common for multiple instances of Svchost.exe to be running at the same time.

This happens because Windows will allow Svchost.exe to be started at multiple times
per session. Each Scvhost group can contain separate services. This grouping of
services allows for much better control and for a simpler debugging process.

If you would like to view the services that are running in each Svchost process, here's
how:
1. Go to Start>> Run. Type in:cmd [Enter] or click OK.
2. At the command prompt type in: tasklist /svc >c:\taskList.txt

Note: Copy and paste the above command for better accuracy.

Should I use NTFS or FAT32?

Question:

I have just purchased a new 320 GB external hard drive that connects via a USB port.
It has come factory formatted using FAT32. I have heard that I should format the drive
using NTFS. What is your opinion on this?

Answer:

Instead of just giving you my recommendation, let me try to explain the two file
systems to help educate you on your decision.

<>Intro:

FAT32 (file allocation table) and NTFS (new technology file system) are two very
different file storage methods. The current Microsoft operating system, Windows XP,
can use either method and in fact, both FAT32 and NTFS can be used on the same
computer and can easily transfer files between them. Usually, the only time that you
will see this is when someone is using the FAT32 file system on a Windows XP
application to store system recovery tools. The reason why they would use a FAT32 for
this purpose is because NTFS cannot be booted from a floppy disc where FAT32 can
be.

<>FAT32:

FAT32 was developed for use with the Windows 98, SE and ME operating systems. It
still is available for use with Windows XP. Even though FAT32 can handle single
partitions up to 2 terabytes, it can only handle file sizes of up to 4GB (which can easily
be achieved by some backup programs). Security is also a huge consideration when
considering using FAT32. Anyone on a network that is FAT32 formatted can easily
delete data with little trouble. Generally speaking, the only time you would actually
need to use a FAT32 system is when you are dual booting a computer using an older
operating system.

<>NTFS:

NTFS was developed for the Windows NT (new technology) operating system and is
used in Windows 2000 and XP. The focus of NTFS' development was stability and
security. This file storage method has many benefits over the older FAT32 method:

• Can handle single partitions of up to 8 petabytes (8,000,000,000,000,000

bytes).
• File compression
• Built-in security
 • Recoverability

All-in-all, NTFS is a much better choice for large volume drives. It accesses files much
quicker than does FAT32 because of its file indexing method

How can I retrieve my XP Product Key?

The product key used to install Windows XP is present on your machine in a non-
readable form. Click the "Download Now" button to install a tool necessary to view
your key code.

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key
(cd key) used to install windows from your registry. It has the options to copy the key
to clipboard, save it to a text file, or print it for safekeeping. It works on Windows 95,
98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Office 97, and Office XP.

file name :for product key

(251k)

Note: If Windows XP came packaged with your computer and is not the retail version
(with box), the key recovered may not be your own machines key but the OEM's bulk
install key.

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Why won't 16-bit programs install on a computer running the 64-bit

version of Windows XP?

16-bit programs are not compatible with the 64-bit version, therefore they will not
install. However, the 64-bit XP platform is backwards-compatible with 32-bit programs.
If you attempt to install a 16-bit program on the 64-bit XP platform, you may receive
one of the following error messages:

• Install.exe is not a valid win32 application.

• Setup.exe is not a valid win32 application.

How do I backup the Windows Registry?

Manually export a registry subkey

Prior to editing a registry key, it is very important to ensure that you export a copy of
the registry key safely to a folder on your hard drive. In the event you should make an
editing mistake, you can safely return your operating system to normal with this
backup copy. Here's how:

1. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter] or click OK.

2. Locate and click to select the subkey that contains the value that you would
like to edit.
3. Go up to the "File" option and select "Export".
4. In the "Save in" text box, choose an easy to find location to save your copied
registry information. In the "File name" text box, name this whatever you would
like.
5. Click Save.

You can also use the Windows Backup utility. Here's how:
-XP Pro users only-

Note: If you are using the Backup Utility to back up system settings and data files,
you will need to back up all of the data on your computer including the System State
data. System State data holds registry information, Windows File protection and Boot
files.

1. Be sure that you are logged in as Administrator.

2. Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> Backup.
3. Select Advanced mode
4. Click the Backup tab
5. Open the Job menu and select New
6. Using the checkboxes, select the drives that you would like to back up. You can
also expand a drive to back up files and folders within that drive.
7. In the Backup Destination list, select the backup destination you would like to
use.
8. Select Start Backup. You will now see the Backup Job Information dialog box.
9. If you have previously backed up this particular data, you will now be given a
 couple of options as to how you wish to deal with the current backup. You can:

Append this backup to the media

-or-
Replace the data on the media with this backup

10. Select Advanced

11. Select the "Verify data after backup" checkbox
12. You will now need to select the type of backup you wish to perform in the
Backup Type box. Select one of the available options and a description of that
backup type appears under "Description".
13. Click OK, then Start Backup. A backup progress dialog box will now appear.
14. Once the backup is complete, click the Close button.

Windows Backup Utility Installation:

-For XP Home Users-

1. Insert your Windows XP CD in to the CD-ROM Drive.

2. If the CD does not auto-start, you will need to go to: Start>> My Computer.
Then, double click the CD icon.
3. A "Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP" screen should now appear. Select
"Perform Additional Tasks".
4. Click on "Browse this CD".
5. Now in Windows Explorer, double click the "ValueAdd" folder.
6. Select "Msft", then Ntbackup.
7. Double click the file titled: "Ntbackup.msi"
8. The wizard will now install the Backup Utility.
9. When complete, click the "Finish" button.

Now that the Backup Utility is installed, follow the same instructions above for the XP
Pro Users.

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