JedMeister

Personally I'd bite the bullet and reinstall, surely your not using all of those programs anyway! If you just reinstall the important ones then reinstall others as you need them its not too much of a chore and all your software is up to date. I download all the latest versions of drivers and software prior to reinstall. But if you're clear you don't want to go down that path then uninstall anything you don't use first. Do a thorough malware scan using your AV and get a free second opinion using an online AV scanner such as Panda Active Scan. Also do a full scan using Spybot S&D. Use CCleaner to get rid of all the junk files. It also has a reg cleaner built in. Use Autoruns to disable any startup apps you don't need/use. You can check all XP files with the File Checker utility. At the Commandline (Start>Run>type "cmd") type "sfc /scannow" (no quotes) and have your XP CD handy. You can do a 'Repair' Install of XP but I'm not 100% clear what that actually does or how you go about it. Good luck!

If I were you I'd be trying to find the cause of the problem first and then try to find some workaround if you have no success with that. If you want to troubleshoot the cause you will need to get a memory dump from when explorer crashes and upload it and get one of the very knowledgeable guys on here (not me!) to examine it for you. There are detailed instructions on here somewhere on how to do that, have a search and you should find it. Another good step would be to change the heading (if you can) to something like "JPG crashes explorer.exe". You could try just disabling startup programs that hook into the shell (using something like Autoruns) to see if an installed program is causing the crash (my suspicion). Using trial and error you may be able to locate the problem app (if thats what it is). On the other hand if you want to persevere with a workaround without trying to find the cause, I know there is a reg hack to open a new instance of explorer.exe each time but I don't know if that'd work. Perhaps you could just associate .jpg's with another program? Even though you say you don't think its caused by malware have you done a rootkit scan, got a second opinion using a free online AV scanner and done a thorough scan with a couple of different spyware scanners?

I know absolutely nothing about this app but it sounds like a DOS app, is that right? If so DOSBOX may be an option. I have used it to play old DOS games that won't run in XP. I haven't used it for ages so I can't really remember much about it, have a google for it. Another option may be to run a virtual Win2K machine from within XP using VMware, VirtualBox or VirtualPC. I know that in Linux you can run programs inside VirtualBox and have them appear as if they are running natively, I'm sure if you can do that in Windows too but may be a neat solution if you can.

I'm not 100% about what Visual Themes are disabled in compatibility mode as I don't use it so I'm only guessing what your after. I could be off in the wrong direction but here goes: You can set XP to use the classic theme though display properties: Right-click on blank area on desktop>Properties>Theme tab (should be first one)>Windows Classic. You can also set screen resolution and colour depth there too (Settings tab). As for visual options I think they are turned off by default in Windows Classic theme but if not then right-click My Computer>Properties>Advanced tab>Performance settings>adjust for best performance

I think this should be in the WPI subforum: http://www.msfn.org/board/Windows-Post-Ins...rd-WPI-f93.html Please contact a mod and get them to move it for you. And perhaps the answer to your question is already there in the WPI forum, I'd be surprised if it wasn't?!?

There is a specific version of Memtest for USB but it requires DOS and you already have Syslinux setup on your USB. The way your stick is setup you could download the bootable Memtest binary and edit the syslinux file to boot it.....but I don't think we need bother. The point of the exercise was not to get Memtest working but to ensure you can boot from your USB prior to any further work. In retrospect I probably should've given you some more specific instructions. I was giving you advice from memory (quite a long time since I last did it) and was a little vague. If you are interested I can provide info to help you setup a USB with Memtest on it but lets get back to the issue here.... Test your USB to make sure it boots ok. I'm not 100% clear on what your USB is setup to do, but assuming you got to where you are following my advice, I'm pretty sure that it should boot and get you to some sort of terminal prompt (sort of like a DOS environment). Try booting to it and see what happens. If this works then you know that your system is successfully booting from the USB. If it has errors post here and hopefully I'll be able to help you. Once you have confirmed that your USB boots ok then you will have to set it up so you can install windows from it. There is tons of info have a read over here: http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-USB-f157.html Make sure you read and search for info before posting though. No one will mind clarifying information if it is clear you are trying but don't understand something. People will get annoyed if it looks like you haven't tried to help yourself. Let me know how you go getting your USB to boot and good luck doing the next step with XP.

nLite is a good program for doing this but there are many many different ways. You are in the right place though! Here are some good places to read first: -MSFN Unattended Install http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/ -Unattended forum (read the guide first - link above) http://www.msfn.org/board/Unattended-Windo...P-2003-f70.html -nLite site http://www.nliteos.com/ -nLite forum (here on MSFN) http://www.msfn.org/board/nLite-f89.html -Unattended application install forum (if you want to make your own or can't find what you're looking for) http://www.msfn.org/board/Application-Installs-f80.html

Personally I think its a great idea to get a second or third opinion on these things. No matter how good a AV is none of them are perfect. I've had experience with Panda Active Scan and I think it works well. I have had really good experience with one by BitDefender but for some reason I have been unable to get it to work for some time. Not sure why. Another possibility is the open source ClamAV, I think the original is made for Linux but there is a Windows port called ClamWin. It doesn't have a real-time scanner so you can install it alongside your regular AV.

So, after all was a malfunctioning device? For the record, checking the device with ChipGenius or similar utility should: 1) check how the device is seen by windows, or more properly how windows receives the data the device sends, it's ID, etc. which indirectly also: 2) checks that the device is not underpowered or failed (an underpowered device or a defective cable/connection or device itself will possibly send "garbage" instead of a proper Vid, Pid and Manufacturer/Model ID string) jaclaz In other words callbobby69, next time you ask for advice please follow it! It seems we were all suspicious of a hardware fault but jaclaz was good enough (and knowledgeable enough) to provide an opportunity to diagnose that from your PC. Instead you chose to ignore it. If you did not understand then perhaps you could've asked for more detailed instructions or more information instead of just ignoring his suggestions. Oh well jaclaz, thanks anyway as I for one learned something in this thread!

I don't use MSOE so I can't comment on that. My experience with other programs (Thunderbird, Firefox, older versions of MSN Messenger etc) and their data and settings has been that if you copy the data from C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data (assuming C:\ is your system drive) from your old install over the top of your new install everything works fine. Some programs (I think MSN Messenger may have been one?) will not transfer your password across but in my experience all other data transfers fine, although you may lose some program settings if they were stored in registry or their respective Program Files folders (or elsewhere such as its own folder in Docs & Settings or My Docs). This is one of the reasons I love Mozilla apps - all personal customisations, data & settings are stored in the App Data folder.However, if the data was encrypted on the old drive then you may well have huge dramas! I think it may be able to be cracked but I have no experience with it and I can guarantee it will be long and painful! I think this is probably not a good way to do what you want. It seems pretty clear to me that these functions are specifically aimed at domain use with roaming profiles. I think its probably not worth continuing in that direction. I would download something like TweakUI if you wish to change the location of system folders. You can do it other ways or even tweak the registry directly but I've found TweakUI the easiest, most foolproof way. It also gives you access to some other things you can't normally do easily by default. And best of all its free! However, if you enjoy the learning and/or are hellbent on persevering in this direction here are some suggestions... Did you make sure that your file share was set with the correct permissions and was accessible? To do this properly you need to have Simple Filesharing disabled. Perhaps another way to go would be rather than use the local computer name when directing to the share, try using \\127.0.0.1\ (loopback address) instead. To test that your file share is created properly, open My Computer and select the address bar (if isn't visable, either enable it in the options or even easier, use IE instead). Type this in the address bar: "\\127.0.0.1\sharename\username" (without quotes - where sharename is the name of the fileshare and username is the user's name) and press <enter>. If all is well then it should open the contents of the folder you set. If you are logged in as the user that you wish to use then try creating a new folder. If that fails chances are your permissions are set wrong.

yeah you missed, but it's alright. We had enough of people going WOHAAAHAAHAA YOU DIDN'T READ THE POST! for a month. Peace. too true!

I would guess so but you won't know until you try. Format the USB using one of the methods from the link I suggested (my personal suggestion would be method 2). Then make sure it boots ok before you bother going to the effort of making an XP instalation (if you can't get the USB to boot no point putting XP on it!) You could just use the USB after formatting and putting the boot sector on, but I prefer to put something like Memtest86+ on it so you can be 100% sure it all works well. Memtest86+ can be found here: http://www.memtest.org/ and there is a bootable USB image that you can download and put on your USB. Then reboot and run Memtest to make sure its all sweet, then put XP on it and install, Also don't forget to get all your drivers for XP (at least get your ethernet driver so you can connect to the net and get the rest!) Good luck!

The first thing I'd try would be resetting CMOS. There should be a pair of pins that when shorted out can reset it. Have a look in your manual (if you can) or look on the board, its usually near the the battery. Try reseating cards and stuff (as it sounds like you have).

I have only used these features on a Win Server2k3 domain with roaming profiles so I'm not 100%h ow it goes on a local computer (but I assume it the same). Personally I don't think its a very good way to go unless you want this data on separate physical harddrives. Their is no advantage to using a separate partition for user files (other than your own organisational desires). The User profile path I'm fairly sure needs to be a file share in the form "\\computer_name\share_name" the variable %username% is allowable. Then you will get the usual contents of \Documents and Settings\<username> saved to the specified fileshare instead (I think you need to also make the fileshare, you need to make sure the user has the correct permissions). I use Home drive to allocate space on the server for personal but also shared use. I have a server fileshare mapped to Z:. Users also still have their own My Documents (which can either be part of their profile or in my case redirected to another place - this is to reduce login times). In my setup all users have exclusive full control access to their My Docs and exclusive write/delete access to their Z: drive. All other users have read only access to other's Z: drives. This makes sharing info between users easy without them needing to physically move data (via USB etc) or use email and means they remain in control of their original data

I have no real idea but the first thing I would try is cleaning all your internet cache and cookies (CCleaner is good) and retry. Perhaps download the latest version of Win/MS Update from the Windows download site and try reinstalling.

I've been reading this topic with interest and haven't replied for a while. Here's my current observation and opinion: Firstly and most importantly: This thread has basically been hijacked and has degraded into something far from what the OP was asking for. The current argument has become a disagreement between paying $$$ for tweaks VS upgrading hardware. What the OP requested was some ideas to get a little more life out of an old system that belonged to a family member. Now I've got that out of the way..... Secondly: I somewhat agree with the OP, Poolsharkzz and Th3_uN1Qu3 in that I think there is some advantage to be gained by tweaks (especially on old hardware). I have and will continue to assist friends and family members to squeeze a little more performance out of their old hardware (basically only used for word processing, email and net access by their owners anyway). I always err on the side of caution. But personally I have never and would never ask for cash payment for this. I do it as a favour only. (I am however willing to accept return favours). Thirdly: Leading on from above, I would always suggest a hardware upgrade to a paying customer with a P3 system. As has been suggested by jcarle, crahak and Zxian no matter how humble the system is, a cheap (even the cheapest) hardware upgrade will outperform any tweaks possible on an old P3! Generally you can even recycle the old box just adding new guts. I know because I've done it. I recently ordered parts for a bargain system. Total cost to the customer was AU$470 (dual core celery, 1GB RAM, 80GB HDD, onboard graphics & running Linux) and everyone was happy, the customer has a huge performance boost over their old P3 450MHz/256MB RAM PC and I made $100 for the 30 mins I spent with the machine (they came and picked it up). I have made a customised build of PCLinuxOS which which installs (mostly) unattended with very minimal setup after install which helps keep the time down. It sounds like I have a very different customer base from you Poolsharkzz so I'm not really sure if my experience is compatible

Have you tried Windows update, sometimes they have one? If you can workout exactly what chip is used then you could try directly at the manufacturers website (eg Realtek?) and see if that works. Some drivers have to be hacked to get them to install on laptops (generally laptops are licenced to only use manufacturer supplied drivers for some reason). I am unclear on the legalities on doing this though so you're on your own if you go down that path. [edit]Have you tried contacting Dell? I had a mate with a similar issue with an Acer (I think?) laptop with no XP drivers available on their website. They directed him to the XP drivers of a different laptop that worked fine. Could be worth a shot?

I'm sorry mate, but it seems to me that for some reason it is not being recognised by your Acer. Any recent version of Linux should recognise it. Perhaps for some reason this drive is not compatible or there is something wrong with it. Have you confirmed that you can boot from the Win XP CD you have? First just try it in a normal CD drive on another PC, then with the USB-CDROM. Maybe you could try the USB stick route? If you have a USB stick (or HDD) try to see if you can get it to boot from that (you may need to format it first - have a read here: http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm I can think of anything else that may be able to help you. Time for some on site tech support mabe? Perhaps you can take it to a local PC shop and see if they can help with it?

Well seeing as your PC should be recognising this first as a USB device and second as a floppy this may not work...but first thing I'd do, would be to enable all the options in BIOS relating to floppy drives and USB devices. If your BIOS can't see the device I think its unlikely that Windows will be able to work with it no matter what drivers you do or do not have. My understanding is that your BIOS should be able to see it as a USB connected floppy (but without knowing your specs it is possible it may only see it as a USB device and not recognise it as a floppy). Either way it should still be seeing it. Often there is an option in BIOS for plug and play hardware to be detected either by OS (Windows) or the BIOS itself. Try toggling this to the other option (to what its already set). If you did a clean install of Windows XP on a clean partition then Windows XP should have a driver for this device. I would try all your USB ports. I have a portable harddrive that will occasionally be recognised as an "Unknown USB Device" on my PC but it works flawlessly on all the other PCs I use it on. I'm not sure why it does this but it does. Often a restart solves it (but not always), I have put it down to either flakey motherboard/USB ports or possibly a harddrive (C:?) on the way out. Perhaps you are having similar issues? I strongly doubt that Mitsumi make a XP device driver for this drive as my understanding is that XP contains a generic driver (written by Microsoft) for USB floppy drives. As long as Mitsumi make a device that confirms to the standard then why would they make more work for themselves? If you have confirmed that this device is not faulty (by trying it on someone else's version of XP - as you have suggested you have done) then it seems that it is a specific problem with your machine (hardware or software). Perhaps you could try either locating the driver used on the other XP machine (use driver properties page in device manager on the PC it works on) and copy that onto yours or just try to confirm you have it. It may be worth copying it over anyway just in case your version is corrupted (although seems unlikely if you've done a clean reinstall - windows does a file integrity check on install). Try manually selecting to use the driver (either yours or the one from the other XP machine) with the drivers properties page from device manager. To confirm that all is well with your HDD, perhaps try a full checkdisk (Start > Run > type "chkdsk c: /f /r" - without quotes, <Enter> then restart), followed by a Windows filecheck (after it has run checkdisk and you are logged back into windows: Start > Run > type "sfc /scannow" - again no quotes, <Enter>). You will possibly need your XP disk handy for the file check although you shouldn't need it much after a clean install. I think it is still worthy of following jaclaz's advice and see how you go. I think both of those topics he linked to are worthy of a good read and try some of the stuff there. The second thread even mentions the generic Windows driver that is on the XP CD (although I'm not 100% sure thats what its called .Perhaps another possibility may be some conflict between this device and something else on your system. Possibly worth disconnecting any other devices and try then. [edit] Using the info I gained from reading jaclaz's second link I have confirmed that the (generic MS) driver is in my XP system partition and confirmed that it supports Mitsumi drives. From usbstor.inf: [Manufacturer] ; sorted by VID %Generic.Mfg%=Generic %Mitsumi.Mfg%=Mitsumi %HP.Mfg%=HP %NEC.Mfg%=NECTo confirm that you have this driver do a search in the Windows folder (make sure you include system files and hidden files or otherwise you won't find it) for "usbstor". On my system there are 3 files: usbstor.inf & usbstor.PNF in C:\Windows\inf\ and USBSTOR.SYS in C:\Windows\drivers\

It is theoretically possible but for you it will depend on your motherboard. Most newer motherboards (made within the last couple of years) can do it. Bootdisk.com have a guide to booting from USB. Have a read and see how you go. There is lots more info on the net (google is your friend)! Regardless of that, I'd have a look in your BIOS (often you press <Delete> key at startup - check your manual to be sure) and see if there are any options to boot to USB in there. It should have some setting relating to boot devices. It will probably be set to boot first to HDD or maybe CD/DVD. There may be other settings you will have to play with, as its different for all motherboards Even if you have those settings its still not a guarantee that it will work. I have personally experienced a board that was very fussy and would not boot to most USB sticks. I'd personally recommend using method 2 from the link I gave above and then load something on it such as Memtest86+ (read here and download USB version here. Its been a while since I last did it but if memory serves me correctly then it should be a simple case of unzipping and then running the .exe. Then test it out! If it boots from your USB and Memtest starts ok, it works, if it just boots like normal then play with some more (likely) settings in BIOS until either it works or you give up! Note: If your BIOS doesn't have a setting to restore defaults, make sure that you write down all the changes that you make! Best still, write down all the changes that you make regardless!

I am not an authority on this but form my understanding it is sort of both. The licence is OEM but not quite the same as the OEM you or I would buy off the shelf, it implies a specific HP OEM licence. No you can not use XP Pro to install XP Home. It will not work. Even XP Home Retail (ie Boxed) and XP Home OEM are different. That is true but not as far as installation is concerned. You could try installing using an OEM version of XP Home. Although I have heard that mostly this does not work as the number on the sticker is usually not an actual serial number, but an HP reference number (that references to a batch OEM serial used for that model of PC). If you are lucky and it does work, then as far as I know that would be legal! If it doesn't you are left with the options of trying to get an HP copy of OEM CD (still may not work) or an image of someone else's recovery partition (may work - the more similar the machines are the better chance of working), or try contacting HP and/or MS for other bright ideas! Or finally install Linux![edit] Sorry off topic - but I note with interest that HP Compaq dx2000 (EP657ES) runs Linux by default!

I'm not sure if I can help but here's my 10c worth. I could be wrong but I thought that a local computer (ie in the case of start-up scripts) only operate with System privileges locally. At a domain level, I thought they just have the privileges of a domain user. This doesn't explain why you can copy the folders but not the contents. Still, the first step I would take would be to give the computer(s) explicit permission to access the folders, sub-folders & files (on the server). Obviously, apply the explicit permissions to the same OU (as you did for your start-up script in Group Policy) if it applies to multiple PCs. Hope that works for you!

The areas you will want to look are 'Application' and 'System'. You get to these by clicking them in the right-hand frame of the Event Viewer. I think its worth noting any 'Error' (red circle with white X) or 'Warning' (yellow triangle with black !) that correlates time wise. If you double click on the error, most of then will have a link to MS Help & Support Centre which will provide extra info. Anything you don't understand, post back and I'll sure someone will be able to help you out.

Hi all, I have just made some adjustments to a couple of (roaming) user profiles on the server (2K3 R2 SP2) and want to ensure that the users check their profiles to ensure everything is as it should be. I could email them but I think it would be better for them to be aware right from their next login (also what if their email is broken? they don't check their email straight away? etc?). I've had a fair bit of search on google and couldn't really find anything that was even close to what I was after. Anyone have any ideas? I was thinking there may be a way of a basic log-in script (using vbscript or something) to display my message in a window with an "OK" button, but how can I make it once only? Could I do something like remove the log-in script when the "OK" button is pressed? If so what would that look like?

I've found that having many unused services set to manual (or if definitely not required - disabled) generally increases boot times. Sometimes dramatically, especially with older machines. I must admit though I have had minor issues with some services set to manual, but not starting when required (sorry don't recall which off the top of my head). If its your own system all well and good, but with someone else's, unless they understand what you've done and how to undo it if required, I believe its best to er on the side of caution. Still, Blackviper's guide is pretty foolproof from my experience.