Computing
PC - Windows Reference
See Also: Device Drivers | Media (Hard disk, CDs) Basic Utilities Norton System Works Ad/Privacy/SpyWare Sftwr.: See Virus / Spyware page Security: Zone Alert/Alarm, Protect your PC at Microsoft AntiVirus: See Virus / Spyware page Browser Check: HijackThis - investigate browser add-ons Defrag: Diskkeeper, Norton Backup: OS - Norton Ghost Aida32 - Is a professional system information, diagnostics and benchmarking program running on Win32 platforms Memtest86 - Is thorough, stand alone memory test for x86 architecture computers. BIOS based memory tests are only a quick check and often miss many of the failures that are detected by Memtest86. Iolo Technologies' System Mechanic rating 7.5 better than Norton Norton System Works - ZD rating 6.3 www.systemsoap.com delpart - delete partition HijackThis - Is a tool, that lists all installed browser add-on, buttons, startup items and allows you to inspect, and optionally remove selected items http://www.activewin.com/reviews/software/utils/s/sysm35b/index.shtml Setup - Configuration: Get BIOS config menu Hold down F1 (AT&T), F2 (Dell), Del, or ESC (Toshiba) at startup Get Win startup menu (safe mode, DOS only, step-by-step, ...) As the BIOS has finished loading, begin tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Continue to do so until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears Use "System Configuration Utility"Basic Maintenance
The following should be performed once/week
You can schedule them to run automataically in:
Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks Or Run manually:
- Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup
- ScanDisk
98: Programs > Accessories > System Tools>ScanDisk
XP: My Computer > Rt Clk. Local Disk (C:) > Properties > Tools > Error-checking > check both boxes > Start > Restart your computer - (Note: If you get an error message with scanDisk see below. *)
- Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter
Try the following:
1. run scandisk from a clean boot.
2. run it from DOS by typing scandisk in the Open: field from Start > Run...
3. Run msconfig and uncheck unnecesary statrup items.
Reinstall
Reinstall Windows
Security
See: Virus - Spyware - Security and
Online fraud, scams, hoaxes, email chain letters & Urban Myths/Legends.
Alternataives to Internet Explorer (IE) and Outlook
See "Is it time to dump Internet Explorer (IE) and Outlook? at security.itworld.com.
ActiveX and VB script in IE make it vulnerable.
Both programs are targets for hackers because of the large number of users.
Many companies are switching to Firefox by Mozilla.
It is the most popular alternative for IE and it's free. "Opera" is another popular browser.
Alternataives for Outlook include, Thunderbird by Mozilla, Open Office (Star Office), Eudora.
Problems
Boot in safe mode:
Misc Tips
FTP
See tips at: XP Problems service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ Windows 98 Troubleshooting at windowsreinstall.com Win 98 Tips and Tricks at helpwithwindows.com/windows98/ The Windows Registry at www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win98/maintain Win 98 web sites and tools Slow System 1. Run Virus and Spyware detection/removal programs. 2. Run: MSCONFIG (Start > Run > "msconfig") Select Startup tab and uncheck unnecessary programs. See Performance Tuning for some of the programs you must leave. It may take some trial and error. See: Performance Tuning for other tips. Genl. System settings: Start>Settings>Control Panel Start>Programs>Accesories>System Tools Name: Rt. Clk. Network Neighborhood > Properties > Identification Hardware specific system settings: Start>programs>(Dell, Thinkpad, ...) System Info: Right Click My Computer > Properties (see user interface below) Network Info: Control Panel > Network or rt clk. Network Neighborhood > Properties Run ipconfig /release-all, ipconfig /renew-all DOS > netstat and winipcfg www.homenethelp.com www.microsoft.com/windows2000 ping tracert CPU Speed: CHKCPU: CHKCPU 1.8 here freeware util. Help: Start > Help C:\WINDOWS\ReadMe.txt Clean Install: When a system gets really slow and corrupted it may be best to back-up your files, reformat the disk and do a clean install of the OS. Utilities: Norton System Works (Ghost - clones system, file recovery, optimize, AntiVirus) PC Booster - Improve performance See: XP troubleshooting. User InterfaceDOS Commands:
Some commands (e.g. ipconfig) run in DOS You can either go to Start>Programs>MS-DOS or Start>Run> "Command" Those which are interactive (e.g. winipcfg) you can run directly Start>Run> "winipcfg"
Keyboard shortcuts
Some keyboards have a windows key to get the start menu,
You can type the first letter to select they menu option (e.g. P = Programs)
Then use arrow keys to navigate.
Alt will also move you to the menu in an application where you can use the arrow keys.
Help: Newbie.org PC Sympathy
Other Reference: XP Net Config at SUNY Oneonta PC Orientation NT Compatibility PC Hardware PC Software The Tech Guide Experts-Exchange.com Membership $100/yr. Ask Dr. Tech $89 - $229 / yr. Best tech support sites at: TechSupportAlert.com/ Paid Support List at PCworld: www.helponthe.net http://www.annoyances.org Freeware and Utilities: SnapFilesCD Software Easy CD Creator WinISO - A CD-ROM image file utility that can convert BIN to ISO, extract/edit/create ISO files directly, make bootable CDs and as a BIN/ISO converter/extractor/editor. Books: Mastering Windows xx" , Mark Manissi Windows xx Visually, Moran Graphics See Also: Network Virus / Security Things to Avoid Service Pack 2 Installation Problems XP Problems Windows Network Debuging Clean Install of Windows Device Drivers Performance Issues TCP/IP Things to Avoid PCI and ISA bus cards Netnews groups: comp.os.ms-windows WindowsXP http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.os.ms-windows.nt.misc http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.os.ms-windows.announce http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.archives.ms-windows.discuss http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.os.ms-windows.misc
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