XP Help

Forum 22
Forums Replies Last Post
  • Dvd/Cdrw not recognized?
    • I have a Dell Inspiron 5000 laptop.I am running windows xp professional.I was running a cd drive perfectly, when I took a cdrw/dvd from another Dell Inspiron 5000 and installed it in my laptop it does not recognize any hardware for new dvd drive anywhere. I have tried mr.fix it,3hrs and no result. I have tried the registry fix, did not work. I have looked for a driver, none found. Please tell me if it is possible to have a dvd cdrw while running xp professional? If so HOW! Please help!

Mon Feb 08 17:30:01 CST 2010
1 Mon Feb 08 17:30:01 CST 2010
by PaulG
  • Install failed
    • I'm running XP Pro SP2 academic version. I've been having network issues for awhile and thought reinstalling the network might fix things. I loaded the install cd and when it came up elected install thinking I would have an option to load windows components but that is a thing of the past. Windows ran the complete install program. I tried to stop it by hitting the esc key but to no avail. I was forced to allow it to run to the end. And herein lies my problem. install froze on a light blue screen with an inoperable mouse. After many minutes I figured it was dead. I hit reset and got the screen with the boot choices: normal, last good and the safe choices. No matter what I select windows keeps returning to the same screen. I've been reading some posts with the same problem but nothing works. I've done bootcfg. I've been to /michaelstevenstech.com, did fixmbr (probably a mistake!) nothing makes a difference. The only thing that did anything helpful was how to turn off auto restart on errors by pressing F8. Here is the error message I get: A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps: Check for viruses on your computer. Remove any newly installed hard drives or hard drive controllers. Check your hard drive to make sure it is properly configured and terminated. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption, and then restart your computer. Technical Information: *** STOP: 0x0000007B (0f78A6528,0XC0000034,0x00000000,0x00000000) CHKDSK /F is not available to me. This my boot.ini: [boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT ]operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastcheck Would greatly appreciate any help. I've been trying to repair this for about a week now.

Mon Feb 08 15:21:01 CST 2010
1 Mon Feb 08 15:21:01 CST 2010
by Bob
  • reinstating genuine xp software
    • I had my Packard Bell computer stripped and re-formatted a while ago by a 'friend of a friend' after picking up some nasty virus(es). Once returned the computer worked fine for a while, but then started diplaying pop-ups saying the windows was not genuine. I can only assume the IT guy installed a rip off version of windows XP rather than the genuine one. The original Microsoft sticker with the product key is attached to the computer but I didn't get a disk when I bought the PC several years ago. Can I reinstall the genuine software by simply entering the product key somewhere?

Mon Feb 08 14:52:02 CST 2010
2 Mon Feb 08 14:52:02 CST 2010
by KevD
  • Rebooting cycle that is endless and any safe mode is unavailable..
    • hi and thanks for your help. after runniong malwarebytes and not finding any malware, i shut down for the evening. the next morning, i restarted only to end up with a generic host 32 window pop up. but by desktop came up and all looked fine. i clicked on a folder and a word doc appeared, but then everything froze. after some time it was apparent that nothing was going to happen, so i shut down. since then the system has been in a constant cycle of rebooting. i have also made mulitiple attempts to get into any safe mode option, but the computer still reboots. i have learned that there are some viruses that cause this problem, but i have also learned that this could mean the drive has also gone bad. i run xp, sp3, 64bit. what are my options and can i ever get into my hd again to extract data? the o/s i run is an oem, so there is no recovery console or repair available as an option.

Mon Feb 08 13:49:01 CST 2010
4 Mon Feb 08 13:49:01 CST 2010
by kipg
  • new windows now open behind old windows
    • Just recently, new windows have started opening behind present (old) windows. For example, I'll have windows explorer open in a window showing a list of files in a directory(folder). When I double click on one of the files (e.g. a text file), it opens *behind* the windows explorer window, not in front of it (as it used to), so I can't see the text file. So I have to click on the text file tray icon below to see the text file. New windows always used to open in front of old windows. I don't know what I did to change this. Does anyone know how to switch back to "new windows open in front of old windows"? Any help appreciated. TIA, Paul

Mon Feb 08 11:39:01 CST 2010
0 Mon Feb 08 11:39:01 CST 2010
by paulinboston
  • Documents and Settings
    • I am the only administrator of my win xp professional sp3 notebook. In my D & S folder y get 7 users [3 of them user.PC192371242527 then the same plus .000, .001, and .002 agregate]some with dif sizes (from48,6 MB to 9,02 GB) and different creation dates. Would like to know if, and which I can delete to recover space. Thanks beforehand. Much obliged Dimitry

Mon Feb 08 09:11:12 CST 2010
1 Mon Feb 08 09:11:12 CST 2010
by dimitry
  • error code 1000008e on or soon after boot up
    • I have a 4 yr old Compaq Pressario running Windows XP Service Pack 3 with 2GB of Ram and 300GB hard disc and NVidia GeForce 7500LE video. No ports are open externally on my wireless router, I run Windows Firewall and AVG antivirus software. During boot up or within 10 mins of boot up the PC unexpectedly reboots. If this doesn't happen within the first 10 mins then the PC operates as expected for as long as I want. Sometimes I get the serious error window on reboot with the option to report the incident to Microsoft, sometimes not. However the information in the system event log is consistent: System Error, Error Code 1000008e, Category (102) Event 1003, User N/A and then 4 parameter hex codes which vary each time. Using F8 to boot into safe mode allows for stable performance and I have run complete command line virus scans with AVG which take several hours but report no errors. One time when the PC was stable I ran the online virus/spyware scan from live.com, again no problems found. The event log provides a link to the microsoft website and sends error information. One of the options there was the Haxdoor virus but I've searched for some of the files associated with it, with search hidden files selected, but didn't find any, and there is nothing unexpected in the registry area of winlogin/notify. Can anyone help me with a cure to this problem, other than reinstalling Windows which to me would be the last resort. I apologise for not searching the newsgroup archive for this, but the more observant may notice I am sending this message from my Mac portable and its taken me enough time already to find some newsreader software and set it up. For the 18 years I have used Usenet, its always been on the PC, and since about 1995 using a Demon Internet developed program called Turnpike. Thanks for any help folk can provide. K.

Mon Feb 08 08:17:03 CST 2010
4 Mon Feb 08 08:17:03 CST 2010
by K
  • Removing apparent Temp files
    • I seem to have a number of files characterized by having a tilde in the extension. For example, I have: Outlook.pst~T7743IMC and Outlook.pst in the same folder. I have over 9,500 of these files on my system. Can they safely be deleted? Thanks. --ron

Sun Feb 07 21:47:45 CST 2010
4 Sun Feb 07 21:47:45 CST 2010
by Ron
  • XP Won't recognize CD/DVD ROM Drives
    • My install of XP was workings fine until a couple of days ago. Now XP has a problen with any CD/DVD ROM drive, even virtual ones like Daemon Tools. The Drives are not assigned drive letters, device manager shows any CD/DVD drive with a Yellow Exclamation mark. The error message under properties says: "Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)" I've tried deleting the drives from the device driver and reinstalling, but I have the same problem. The DVD drive is recognized by the bios when I check for it at boot up. How can I get XP to recognize my DVD Drives? Thanks DR M -- --------------------------------- --- -- - Posted with NewsLeecher v4.0 Beta 9 Web @ http://www.newsleecher.com/?usenet ------------------- ----- ---- -- -

Sun Feb 07 20:58:11 CST 2010
5 Sun Feb 07 20:58:11 CST 2010
by DR
  • Re-booting
    • I am running Windows XP on a Dell machine. For about a month now, I have had a problem of it re-booting for no apparent reason. There is no pattern to the re-booting. What causes this problem and how can I correct it?

Sun Feb 07 16:05:01 CST 2010
4 Sun Feb 07 16:05:01 CST 2010
by Don
  • windows xp & firewall.
    • Help please--My wife's thinkpad has xp home, serv pack3. No matter how many times I enable windows firewall it always is turned off when I reboot. I go to security center and set it. I also set it thru my wireless connection. But sure enough when I reboot I get the little red shield in the tray telling me no firewall. Any ideas? Thankyou for any and all help. -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

Sun Feb 07 14:55:35 CST 2010
8 Sun Feb 07 14:55:35 CST 2010
by HANGMAN

Sun Feb 07 11:23:48 CST 2010
3 Sun Feb 07 11:23:48 CST 2010
by nospam
  • web games
    • Computer wont download any games that require java or shockwave players even after trying to update or install updates. Can anyone help me resolv this?

Sat Feb 06 23:15:01 CST 2010
4 Sat Feb 06 23:15:01 CST 2010
by mistydmiller
  • Can not get into safe mode
    • My computer, with XP, boots normally OK, however, I can not get into any of the 3 safe modes available. The files that show roll by until they get to the same one and then everyting stops. The only way out of this is to pull the plug and restart the computer. The file that it always stops on is: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0) partition(2)windows\system32\Drivers\agp440.sys Fortunately, I have not had to rely on getting in to Save Mode, but would sure like to get this fixed if possible. dsc

Sat Feb 06 20:36:01 CST 2010
6 Sat Feb 06 20:36:01 CST 2010
by dsears
  • Trying to download and install Microsoft .NET Framework
    • Hi, I'm trying to install the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 so I can run this game beta I applied for; I download the 2 MB package, go through the terms of service, accept, and finally get to the "download and install progress" screen, 60 MB, okay, click start, but nothing happens. No progress, nothing. I restarted and turned off my firewall, okay, so it starts to download, gets to 4 MB... cancels... starts over... 4 MB... cancels... starts over... 4 MB... cancels... 0 MB, 0 KB/s. Four or five restarts, then, nothing. What's the problem here? I'm using Comcast highspeed internet on a Pentium 4 machine with Windows XP Pro, 2.5 ram, 3.0 ghz processor, etc.

Sat Feb 06 14:43:01 CST 2010
1 Sat Feb 06 14:43:01 CST 2010
by Damon
  • Trying to download and install Microsoft .NET Framework
    • Hi, I'm trying to install the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 so I can run this game beta I applied for; I download the 2 MB package, go through the terms of service, accept, and finally get to the "download and install progress" screen, 60 MB, okay, click start, but nothing happens. No progress, nothing. I restarted and turned off my firewall, okay, so it starts to download, gets to 4 MB... cancels... starts over... 4 MB... cancels... starts over... 4 MB... cancels... 0 MB, 0 KB/s. Four or five restarts, then, nothing. What's the problem here? I'm using Comcast highspeed internet on a Pentium 4 machine with Windows XP Pro, 2.5 ram, 3.0 ghz processor, etc.

Sat Feb 06 14:43:01 CST 2010
1 Sat Feb 06 14:43:01 CST 2010
by Damon
  • Trying to download and install Microsoft .NET Framework
    • Hi, I'm trying to install the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 so I can run this game beta I applied for; I download the 2 MB package, go through the terms of service, accept, and finally get to the "download and install progress" screen, 60 MB, okay, click start, but nothing happens. No progress, nothing. I restarted and turned off my firewall, okay, so it starts to download, gets to 4 MB... cancels... starts over... 4 MB... cancels... starts over... 4 MB... cancels... 0 MB, 0 KB/s. Four or five restarts, then, nothing. What's the problem here? I'm using Comcast highspeed internet on a Pentium 4 machine with Windows XP Pro, 2.5 ram, 3.0 ghz processor, etc.

Sat Feb 06 14:41:02 CST 2010
0 Sat Feb 06 14:41:02 CST 2010
by Damon
  • IIS Installation Problem
    • Whenever I install or uninstall IIS in Windows XP professional, I get the following "Distributed Transaction Coordinator Setup Error": Sub-component Distributed Transaction Coordinator raised an exception while processing the OC_COMPLETE_INSTALLATION setup message. d:\xpsp\com\com1x\dtc\ntdtcsetup\src\csetuputil.cpp (line 2748) Error Code = 0x80004005 Unspecified error Failed to execute function 'DllRegisterServer()' in 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\mtxoci.dll'. I'll be very grateful if someone could help me fix this issue. Thanks!

Sat Feb 06 02:56:01 CST 2010
0 Sat Feb 06 02:56:01 CST 2010
by LeeKong
  • IIS Issue
    • Whenever I try to install or uninstall IIS from Windows components in Windows XP, I get the following "Distributed Transaction Coordinator Setup Error": Sub-component Distributed Transaction Coordinator raised an exception while processing the OC_COMPLETE_INSTALLATION setup message. d:\xpsp\com\com1x\dtc\ntdtcsetup\src\csetuputil.cpp (line 2748) Error Code = 0x80004005 Unspecified error Failed to execute function 'DllRegisterServer()' in 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\mtxoci.dll'. I'll be very grateful if someone could help me resolve this issue.

Fri Feb 05 22:00:01 CST 2010
0 Fri Feb 05 22:00:01 CST 2010
by Lee
  • How to stop screen so i can read blue screen message
    • Hi, I have XP pro and it has started to keep on rebooting at start up with a flash of a blue screen message which I can't read as it is so fast. It boots up with the Windows logo screen and the blue lines showing it working for a few seconds but then it goes black and then the blue screen flashes and it then reboots to the same thing again. How can I read that blue screen and how can I see what it wrong and fix it. Thanks oz

Fri Feb 05 17:31:23 CST 2010
12 Fri Feb 05 17:31:23 CST 2010
by rock
  • Drops wireless conection
    • I have a customer with a dell computer Belkin wireless modem router and wireless dongle. The computer with the dongle works fine signal excelent and runs ok on the net. She uses facebook and takes part in a game called cafe as soon as she loads the game and logs in the wireless conection drops out. All other internet services work fine, any ideas would be welcome. Thanks in advance Ken

Fri Feb 05 14:03:02 CST 2010
2 Fri Feb 05 14:03:02 CST 2010
by brightspark
  • XP SP2 Installation error
    • We are trying to install SP2 and during the install we get an error 0x80070080. Does anyone know what this error is? TIA Farley

Fri Feb 05 10:54:06 CST 2010
1 Fri Feb 05 10:54:06 CST 2010
by fbcarter
  • DVD-RAM Drive Displays As CD Drive In My Computer
    • When I insert a blank DVD into the drive, the icon changes from DVD-RAM Drive to CD Drive and a windows opens up asking what I would like to do with the CD. After I eject the blank DVD, the icon returns to displaying DVD-RAM Drive. However, when I insert a DVD video into the drive, it will be recognized as such. A DVD data disc is correctly displayed as DVD ROM. The drive reads any disk I insert, and the drive is also recognized by most of my DVD burning software. I've also updated to the latest firmware for the drive. I've checked online and this problem seems to have existed for years with Windows XP. The question is, why does the icon change to CD Drive when I insert a blank DVD disc and then only give me options for working with a CD? -- DaffyD® ( : []= If I knew where I was I'd be there now. __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4836 (20100204) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

Fri Feb 05 03:07:20 CST 2010
3 Fri Feb 05 03:07:20 CST 2010
by DaffyD®
  • KB953297 won't install
    • Every day Windows Update tries to install Microsoft.Net Framework1.1 service Pack 1 security update KB953297 & it fails. No error code is given, simply a message that it was not installed. According to my update history this has been happening since October. I've searched for advice on the MS site but it refers to a registry cleanup tool which I can't get to work. Searching on Google gets me to various bbs however I don't really understand the advice given as it seems to be aimed a people with far more pc knowledge than me, What do I need to do please? Tony

Fri Feb 05 01:57:06 CST 2010
5 Fri Feb 05 01:57:06 CST 2010
by Tony
  • All windows wont close; cant click on desktop icons...
    • hello: All of a sudden, any window i open wont minimize, icons on desktop wont open...white small boxes appear behind them when i click on them... It works ok in safe mode though. i installed system mechanic and got rid of excess clutter and any start up problems werent detected. Norton gets rid of any virus... what can be the matter? i tried shutting down, of course and restarting a lot... Has any one heard of windows not minimizing before...what is it? thanks, jeannie

Thu Feb 04 16:09:01 CST 2010
1 Thu Feb 04 16:09:01 CST 2010
by jeanne
  • IE8 won't open
    • I'm having strange problems appearing on one of my XP Pro computers. Possible virus but McAfee does not show anything. Firefox, Safari, and Chrome all work fine but IE8 will not open (if it does, it will then close). Yes, I re-installed it. Also, when I boot this computer, the Windows firewall is turned off and I must reset it usually each time. Not certain what is happening, greatly appreciate any trouble shooting suggestions.

Thu Feb 04 14:26:22 CST 2010
5 Thu Feb 04 14:26:22 CST 2010
by Jim
  • cannot open internet browser
    • after getting rid of total pc defender my computer cannot locate any files..can work offline but no internet connection..I am asked to check name of file or use search. Search does the same thing

Thu Feb 04 14:01:01 CST 2010
2 Thu Feb 04 14:01:01 CST 2010
by Chicken
  • xp cd
    • Is there a way to make a new cd off my computer of windows xp? I dont have mine and I need to clean my system its running really slow

Thu Feb 04 13:55:01 CST 2010
11 Thu Feb 04 13:55:01 CST 2010
by Kc_cole
  • After getting rid of virus
    • After finally removing Total PC Defender..I have icons on desktop but when I click windows cannot find file. Same with using start..Have I deleted something maybe? Can only use computer off line..will not connect to internet...

Thu Feb 04 12:20:07 CST 2010
4 Thu Feb 04 12:20:07 CST 2010
by Chicken
  • svchost.exe problem
    • Hi Please help me in solving this issue i am facing a problem in my company which to be seems like a conficker or other type of virus or trojan what this virus or trojan do to the PC's is:. 1. it change your PC to be a workgroup. 2. it stop the NET LOGON from services. 3. cannot access any share folder from any other PC. 4. disable change the computer name from my computer Properties. _______________________ what i did is: 1. scanning with mcafee and every time it gives me this message: "Blocked by Buffer Overflow Protection NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe:KERNEL32.LoadLibraryA BO:Writable BO:Stack" 2. antimalware software to scan but find nothing 3. string software but find nothing as well 4. other antivirus software but all of them found nothing _____________- when this virus or trojan hit any pc i used to restart the pc and the issue solved for some time but it hits again. and when i restart the NET LOGON from the services the PC work fine for a while but it also get hit again after some time as well PLEASE help me in finding a solution for this issue Best Regards, -- Dooody66 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dooody66's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/181083.htm View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/1298622.htm http://forums.techarena.in

Wed Feb 03 02:39:35 CST 2010
0 Wed Feb 03 02:39:35 CST 2010
by Dooody66
  • Slipstreamed SATA Problems
    • I have a Gateway MX8734 that came loaded with Vista. I got the lap top from a friend of mine who had the original install of Vista Home Premium on it. Vista seemed to run a little sluggish on the dual core 1.6 so I decided to load XP, and that's when I discovered the laptops hard drive was a SATA drive. Fortunately Gateway released a SATA driver for Windows XP and this computer, unfortunately when I slip streamed them in to my Windows XP SP3 disk and burned a new one, everything was good untill the screen turns light blue after the install of the networking tools, then it shuts down, restarts and gives the xp boot screen, starts back in to setup and says "setup is being restarted.........." I'm sure this would all be much easier if I had an external Floppy drive to put the SATA drivers on, but I don't. Any one else had this problem or better yet, know a solution? I used nLight to slipstream the drivers. -- cylmischief ------------------------------------------------------------------------ cylmischief's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/181014.htm View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/1298570.htm http://forums.techarena.in

Tue Feb 02 22:52:10 CST 2010
0 Tue Feb 02 22:52:10 CST 2010
by cylmischief
  • No safe mode options with F8 on dual os dell system
    • I have Dell computer which i purchased from Dell with XP and Vista installed. It is currently set to XP. It is working fine. I am, however, trying to run a utility for AVG on it in Safe Mode and have found out that I am having a difficult time arriving to the Safe Mode options. Interestingly and, most frustrating, I have found out that Dell won't support a Dual OS system even though they are the folks who sold it to me that way brand new! The computer is only 5 months or so old. I try hitting the F8 immediately upon start up and I arrive at the "choose OS" menu/page. The instructions in the Help feature on XP says to then hit F8 again to arrive at the Safe Mode Options. Unfortunately that does not work and the only way out is to escape and then the computer proceeds to load up XP. Any suggestions? It is not an emergency now but I sure would like to know how to start up in Safe Mode. -- tsmith ------------------------------------------------------------------------ tsmith's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/180974.htm View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/1298532.htm http://forums.techarena.in

Tue Feb 02 18:51:39 CST 2010
3 Tue Feb 02 18:51:39 CST 2010
by tsmith
  • Change in start-up behaviour after update
    • Hello! My IBM ThinkPad T42p laptop computer was delivered to me with Windows XP SP1 preinstalled from the factory. The very first time I turned it on I set up an account in my name "Theodore" with administrator's privileges as I was asked to do by the introductory registration screen which appeared before Windows XP Professional start loading. "Theodore" and "Guest" were then the only available in the User's Accounts dialogue box and every time I started my system I could see a plain Windows welcome screen with the word "Welcome" exactly in the middle, without the name of my account, and shortly afterwards my desktop with my wallpaper and icons appeared. However, as my system caught a virus, a few days ago, I had the Windows XP Professional SP1 reinstalled by the computer's Restore and Recovery feature to its factory delivery state and subsequently, I connected through the Internet to the Microsoft Update website and had Windows XP SP2, Windows XP SP3, Internet Explorer 8 as well as all the other available updates, including the latest version of .NET Framework, downloaded and installed on my system. From that time, however, the behaviour of my system at start up has changed and I do not know the reason. Namely, I can see again the Windows welcome screen but this time it is divided in the middle by a vertical line with the word "Welcome" appearing to the left and my account name "Theodore" to the right of this vertical line. The Windows start up process stops here and every time I have to click on the name of my account for the start up process to continue so that I will see my desktop with my wallpaper and icons. I have also noticed that after the installation of the latest version of .NET Framework, one more account, namely ASP.NET has been created in the User Account dialogue box and I naturally wonder if this is the reason for this change in my Windows start up behaviour as well as if there is something I can do to restore my system's behaviour EXACTLY to what it was before the upgrade as it has been analytically described above so that I can very briefly see the Windows XP Welcome screen without the vertical line and my account name before the system automatically loads my desktop. I would appreciate a lot a correct answer by someone who has the right knowledge on that matter.

Thu Feb 04 08:00:02 CST 2010
2 Thu Feb 04 08:00:02 CST 2010
by TheodoreStathopoulos
  • How to push traffic bandwidth on certain connections and limit others ?
    • On my remote WinXP system I have several programs (servers, remote desktop VNC, virus signature updates, remote monitoring,...) which share the bandwidth of an internet broadband connection. However if I connect to this server through remote desktop/VNC I want to limit/throttle all other connection traffic so that I can access the server without stuttering. I heard that there are tools which allow limiting of traffic for certain programs in certain conditions. Which programs are suitable for this purpose? Peter

Thu Feb 04 07:21:17 CST 2010
0 Thu Feb 04 07:21:17 CST 2010
by peter_ha
  • Full Screen
    • On one version of XP the same program pops up as a window and in another it pops up as full screen. I can't id any setting which led to this. - = - Vasos Panagiotopoulos, Columbia'81+, Reagan, Mozart, Pindus, BioStrategist http://www.panix.com/~vjp2/vasos.htm http://www.facebook.com/vasjpan2 ---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}--- [Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards] [Urb sprawl confounds terror] [Phooey on GUI: Windows for subprime Bimbos]

Wed Feb 03 23:11:43 CST 2010
3 Wed Feb 03 23:11:43 CST 2010
by vjp2
  • Permanently setting process priority?
    • I am attempting to permanently change process priorities for certain apps on XP sp3 so that when I start them they start with a custom priority of my choosing rather than with the default priority of 'Normal' assigned by XP. I have tried both Prio and SetPriority, but neither app will permanently assign process priorities. When the app which is assigned a priority other than the default is closed and reopened, it reopens with the default priority of Normal rather than with the one of my choosing. I have .NET 2.0 installed, which is needed for SetPriority. Prio: http://www.prnwatch.com/prio.html SetPriority: http://www.sunsplash.org/software/setpriority/ I have also tried creating batch file of this kind: cmd /c start /AboveNormal appname.exe described here: http://www.petri.co.il/forums/showthread.php?t=2010 The batch file started the app, but the process priority was Normal rather than AboveNormal. Can anyone shed any light on why these methods might not be working? Would any particular service need to be enabled for these process priority-setting methods to work correctly?

Wed Feb 03 22:48:16 CST 2010
2 Wed Feb 03 22:48:16 CST 2010
by Jack
  • HP Recovery D., give more GBs?
    • I'm running XP Pro with SP3, 250 GBs I keep getting a pop-up window telling me I don't have enough back-up space. It claims to have 8.47 GB filled and 32 MB free space. But back-up folder only claims :171 MB (179,630,619 bytes) Removing 'all but most recent restore point' changes no numbers. Disc clean-up sez it would add 0 Tried Check Disk..'Automatically fix file system error', and also 'recover bad areas'.... This Changed used space to 7.55 GBs free space 970 MB Also defragged D I wouldn't mind giving it more, but how to do so, please? Shall I back-up the files to my external drive, then delete them all from D and cause a new recovery point? or...???

Wed Feb 03 20:51:57 CST 2010
8 Wed Feb 03 20:51:57 CST 2010
by Sylvia
  • Permanently change process priority?
    • I am attempting to permanently change process priorities for certain apps on XP sp3 so that when I start them they start with a custom priority of my choosing rather than with the default priority of 'Normal' assigned by XP. I have tried both Prio and SetPriority, but neither app will permanently assign process priorities. When the app which is assigned a priority other than the default is closed and reopened, it reopens with the default priority of Normal rather than with the one of my choosing. I have .NET 2.0 installed, which is needed for SetPriority. Can anyone shed any light on why these apps might not be working? Would any particular service be needed to enable these process priority-setting apps to work correctly? Prio: http://www.prnwatch.com/prio.html SetPriority: http://www.sunsplash.org/software/setpriority/

Wed Feb 03 20:08:39 CST 2010
1 Wed Feb 03 20:08:39 CST 2010
by Jack
  • XP Default Screensaver settings
    • When a user has a screensave configured, that is the screensaver that displays when the time lapses. When no user is logged on, a defalt screensaver is used. How to configure that default screensaver?

Wed Feb 03 18:50:45 CST 2010
3 Wed Feb 03 18:50:45 CST 2010
by lurker
  • Crackers into school files.
    • Hello All! The local papers have been much exercised by the fact that a bunch of junior crackers got into the online grade files at Winston Churchill High School in Montgomery County. Apparently, they placed USB key stroke recorders and freebie programs on teachers' computers and thus got the passwords. Not only did they modify their own grades but they reduced those of people they disliked. Tho' it is difficult to get people to change their passwords, are there not encrypting devices activated by fingerprints and other ways of achieving greater security? -- James Silverton Potomac, Maryland Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Wed Feb 03 16:46:49 CST 2010
1 Wed Feb 03 16:46:49 CST 2010
by James
  • startup upon stand-by -- no reactions to mouse and keyboard
    • Windows XP SP3 OS leaves the stand-by mode. The user has caused this by stroking some key (keyboard). The windows welcome screen, with several icons of defined accounts. Mouse cursor follows the mouse movements but no reaction to left click. Also no reaction to right click. No reaction to strokes on keyboard. What would be to check as first in this situation? Possible reasons? Thanks

Wed Feb 03 14:07:30 CST 2010
5 Wed Feb 03 14:07:30 CST 2010
by kakii
  • How do you cancel a boot-time disk scan in WindowsXP Home
    • My oldest hard-drive is an EIDE Western Digital 120-JB drive that is on it's last legs but still has data to big to back up on burned media. I don't have enough space left on my other SATA drives to back everything up on another drive. I tried to run a Norton Utilities Disk Doctor scan on it and it fails at 56% of the first part of the scan and crashes Norton. I tried Windows Disk Scan and it also failed the same point, and downloaded Western Digital Diagnostics for DOS floppy. When I tried to run it, the software said the drive had fatal errors and they couldn't be fixed. After all this, I now have boot-time scan early in Windows boot for this drive that starts and if let run it locks the system at that point with the only alternative a Reset to reboot and hit key at the boot scan to cancel it so Windows will boot. Every time I do restart, the system tries to run this boot-time scan again and has to be canceled to get Windows to open again. I've been looking everywhere in Windows, but can't find way to clear the requirement to run this scan, and can't unplug the drive till the data has been backed up onto external hard-drive I expect to come in next week. Where does Windows hide the setting for scheduled scans? Herb

Wed Feb 03 11:50:44 CST 2010
4 Wed Feb 03 11:50:44 CST 2010
by Cyborg-HAF
  • How to block a chunk of IPs?
    • Can someone please tell me how to block a whole bunch of IP from a certain ISP? If I were to block a range of IP, from aaa.bbb.ccc.000 to aaa.bbb.ccc. 255 --- How would I do that? I have heard about "HOSTS file" but I do not know how to block a whole range of IP using that "HOSTS file" thing. Can anyone please help? Thank you ! OS: Win 7 Home Basic

Wed Feb 03 00:47:25 CST 2010
2 Wed Feb 03 00:47:25 CST 2010
by Penang
  • Runaway svchost.exe
    • Hi; Over the weekend I got hit with the lsas.blaster virus. I used malwarebytes, SUPERAntiSpyware, and CCleaner and it appeared to remove the infection. However, my pc is now a snail. I have an instance of svchost.exe that is just churning - using up 93-99% cpu. Killing the process forces a restart. Killing the child processes using Process Explorer totally freezes the machine. When I start up in Safe mode, that instance disappears. I'm stumped. How can I find out what is looping and stop it from calling svchost.exe? I'd really hate to have to wipe the drive and do a reinstall but I'm starting to think that it might be my only alternative. TIA for any help. gjw -- George J. Wallace

Wed Feb 03 00:21:27 CST 2010
1 Wed Feb 03 00:21:27 CST 2010
by George
  • Lost color red
    • I added memory to my PC and rebooted. Now my colors have changed. There is no reds or oranges. How do I get them back ?

Tue Feb 02 22:50:01 CST 2010
2 Tue Feb 02 22:50:01 CST 2010
by jmvsman
  • Task Bar Issue
    • My task bar went from one line at the bottom of my screen to 2 lines on the left side of my screen with my Start and icons on the top line and open applications on the bottom line. On the right side of the bottom of my screen, I have 3 lines; time, day and date all on separate lines with icons on each line as well. How do I get back to just one line for everything? Running XP Home Edition XP3 on a desktop.

Tue Feb 02 14:21:16 CST 2010
2 Tue Feb 02 14:21:16 CST 2010
by JohnK
  • Memory Parity Error BSOD
    • I added a PCI soundcard to my system that already had an onboard soundcard and an additional USB soundcard. I wanted two soundcards, and was having problems with the USB one. The instructions were adamant that I should disable the onboard soundcard, but then I'd still have just one soundcard, so I ignored this. Partway through the boot I got a "Memory Parity Error" BSOD. So I took the PCI soundcard back out, and am still fiddling with the USB soundcard. I'm curious, though. How would a soundcard (or its drivers) cause a memory parity error? -- Steve Swift http://www.swiftys.org.uk/swifty.html http://www.ringers.org.uk

Tue Feb 02 14:02:01 CST 2010
0 Tue Feb 02 14:02:01 CST 2010
by Steve
  • Print a Windows 7 Word document using Windows XP
    • I created a Word document on my home computer where I have Windows 7. When trying to open the document on my work computer (has Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003) I receive an error stating, "Word cannot start the converter mswrd632.wpc." I need to open the document at work. What steps do I need to take to accomplish this? -- Strong-minded

Tue Feb 02 12:05:01 CST 2010
7 Tue Feb 02 12:05:01 CST 2010
by strongminded
  • Boot Drive (I)
    • After getting the blue screen of death several times, I tried to restore my Acronis ghost image of my hard drive. The restore was unsuccessful so I reformatted the hard drive and reinstalled Windows XP Media Edition. When completed I found my Hard Drive letter was I not C. I've found info on how to change other drive letters but they won't work on the Boot Drive. What can I do?

Tue Feb 02 10:56:06 CST 2010
1 Tue Feb 02 10:56:06 CST 2010
by Richard