• Computer beeps during boot up

• Windows XP fails to boot, with error ".. file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\..."

• PC Housekeeping Routine

• MSCONFIG Command

• Anti SPAM software

• Keyboard Shortcut Overview

• SFC Command

• Can't access Secure Web sites

• Duplicate Incoming Emails

• Installing or Starting MS-DOS 16bit Windows Based Programs

• Removing Viruses from System Volume Information folder
• Windows Genuine Advantage notification work-around
• Outlook blocking attachments
• XCOPY command for backups
• CD drive vanished
• Failed Windows Updates after Repair Install

MSCONFIG

Click Start, Run and type in MSCONFIG and click OK

On the box that appears, click the Startup tab at the top

Listed here are all the programs that get started each time your computer boots.

Un-tick any programs that you don't want/need or that look suspicious.  Of course the catch-22 is you may not know what ones you don't want or know the ones that look normal.

This command is not available under Windows 95 or 2000.

 

Personally I don't use it and don't recommend it.

They basically work on two principals.  They have a list of known sites or people that send spam or they look for key words within the email subject or body.

For example, a key word may be PORN.  If I sent someone an email with the phrase "Please be on the lookout for the latest porn site hijackers" than that email would be blocked if the receiver has anti-spam software.  Also, these programs are too easily fooled.  Instead of PORN, I could write it as P_O_R_N which may not make it appear on the anti-spam radar.

I'd rather get mail I didn't want than not get mail I did want.

 

 

The System File Checker is a useful tool to check the integrity of your system.  It can be used to extract a file that needs replacing or has become corrupted(Win9x) or to recover system files(WinXP).  It is a good starting point in trying to fix a PC that would otherwise need to have the Operating System reinstalled.
To use it, go to Start, Run and type SFC, if you have Win9x.  For XP users you need to type SFC from a DOS prompt.

 

If you have trouble trying to access sites that are secure, that is, start with https:\\, and are getting the message 'This page cannot be displayed' then try the following;

• Make sure you have anti-Spyware and Adware, they are updated and perform a full system scan.
• Delete Temporary Internet Files and Cookies.  Go to Internet Explorer and navigate to Tools, Internet Options and click Delete Files and Delete Cookies. (This is for those running version 6 of IE with SP2 for XP,  the same is still possible under other Windows and IE versions, you just have to look a little harder)
• Delete the file INDEX.DAT.  This file is usually left behind after performing the above step.  You will need to reboot in Safe Mode to delete it as it is a system file and is 'locked' by Windows normally.
• You also need to delete your User Profile.  Log on as Administrator in Safe Mode.  It is located in Control Panel, System, Advanced.  Select Settings in the User Profile section and click Delete.  You will loose you personal customisation settings but no data.  When you reboot in normal mode you will have to re-setup your Desktop etc.
   

Another work-around is to install another Web Browser.  Firefox is free, looks very similar to Internet Explorer and provides a quick solution.

 

This problem seems to stem from a file corruption in an Outlook Express file called POP3UIDL.DBX.  The solution should be as easy as deleting this file.  It will be recreated the next time you click Send/Receive.  Of course, make sure that you aren't really getting someone sending you the same email twice.  This may be happening without their knowledge due to a virus infection on their computer.

 

 

If a virus gets into the folder where Windows keeps the information for System Restore points, your anti-virus program may not be able to access it.  To clean out all the saved restore points do this;

• click Start, Control Panel, System, System Restore and tick the box to turn off System Restore on all drives
• reboot the PC
• go back to the System Restore settings and un-tick the box to turn System Restore back on
• reboot the PC
   

The System Volume Information folder will now be empty and all viruses removed.

 

Click here to read the official Microsoft solution

 

 

Of course the best way to remove this annoyance is to make sure your version of XP is valid.  You only get this message when the person who installed XP has not used a valid registration key.  If you thought your version was legit or have paid for a legit copy and are getting this message, you will have to contact the installer of the software to resolve the issue.

As a quick fix to at least stop the 'your version is not genuine' message, try the following.  However, you'll probably get the message again the next time you download and install updates from Windows.  To stop this, set Automatic Updates to 'notify me but don't automatically download or install them' and make sure you don't select the Windows Genuine Advantage update.

Method 1
Restart XP in Safe Mode
Delete wgatray.exe & wgalogon.dll from c:\windows\system32  (if the DLL file won't delete, rename it to wgalogon.dll.old)
Delete wgatray.exe & wgalogon.dll from c:\windows\system32\dllcache
Launch Regedit
Browse to the following location:
hkey_local_machine\software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify
Delete the folder ‘wgalogon’ and all its contents
Reboot

Method 2
Launch Regedit
Browse to the following location:
hkey_local_machine\software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WgaNotify
On the right panel, modify the value of NoRemove to 0
Exit Regedit
Re-launch the Add/Remove Program, and Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB905474) is now removable.

Microsoft Outlook includes a feature that blocks attachments that are considered unsafe. If you receive an e-mail message that contains an attachment that contains one of the file types that are considered unsafe, you may receive the following message:

Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments...

Although Outlook blocks access to the attachment, the attachment still exists in the e-mail message.

Follow these steps to correct the problem.

1. Quit Outlook if it is running
2. Click Start, and then click Run
3. Type regedit, and then click OK
    

Verify that the following registry key for your version of Outlook exists. If it does, go to step 4.

Microsoft Outlook 2000
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\Security

Microsoft Outlook 2002
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Security

Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security

If the registry key does not exist, create it. To create the registry key, locate and then click the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft

1. Click the Edit menu, click New, and then click Key
2. Type Office, and then press ENTER
3. Click the Edit menu, click New, and then click Key
4. Type 11.0, and then press ENTER.  Note: This is the correct name if you are using Outlook 2003. If you are using Outlook 2000 or
   Outlook 2002, you will have to type "9.0" or "10.0", respectively
5. Click the Edit menu, click New, and then click Key
6. Type Outlook, and then press ENTER
7. Click the Edit menu, click New, and then click Key
8. Type Security, and then press ENTER

4. Click the Edit menu, click New, and then click String Value
5. Type the following name for the new value:
   
   Level1Remove
    
6. Press ENTER
7. Right-click the new string value name, and then click Modify
8. Type the file name extension of the file type that you want to open in Outlook. For example
   
   .exe
   To specify multiple file types, use the following format:
   .exe;.com
    
9. Click OK
10. Quit Registry Editor and restart your computer

When you start Outlook, you can open the file types that you specified in the registry.

Firstly, you need to create a new Text file.

• Right click some empty space on your Desktop and select New, Text Document
• Name the file backup.bat and hit Enter
• Select Yes to the message "Are you sure you want to change it?"
• Now right click the new icon and select Edit
• Copy the example below and paste it into the new file
• Click File, Exit and save the file

Now if you double click the desktop icon it will do what is listed in the file. With a bit of experience, you can also include the Email folder and anything else you want to include.

Backup file Example

@echo off
echo Starting...
xcopy "c:\docs\*.*" "h:\backup\my docs\" /d/y/c/h/r/s/k

pause

 

If for no reason you suddenly have your CD units vanish and when trying to reinstall you get the following message;

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)

Try the SFC /scannow command first from DOS mode.

If that doesn't work,

• go into regedit

• go to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
  Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

• and delete the entries for UpperLimits and LowerLimits

• exit

• reboot

When you restart the CD drive should be available - if not a repair install of XP is needed.
 

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