DL.

Set the pinned programs as you want them (uncheck e-mail in the start-menu preferences), and export [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartPage]. I remember it took me quite some searching to find that out. (You can test it by first exporting the reg-key and then change the settings to something different, apply the reg and reboot.)

I've never had anything against ME, it has always worked great for me. I often prefer ME over 98SE because of its better hardware support and because it feels more modern/updated (it is the top of the 9x as Eck wrote). Although on some older machines you can't install ME because of some strange incompatibility. If the comp has got enough memory and HDD-space then XP is without a doubt the first choice. I think most modern Windows versions are quite good if fully updated (I've used all of them except from the betas). But they need various amounts of tweaking/slimming in order to work as I like them to. Off topic, about dee88:s PC: My last full comp did cost more than twice of that (back in late 2002), just add some speakers, a DVDRW, an extra HDD and other extras/components and you are up there.

As Elektrik wrote updating some driver(s) is another possible solution to your problem, forgot to mention that.

Try this in a .reg-file: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\] "PowerdownAfterShutdown"="1" If it doesn't work after a reboot try removing all devices with "ACPI" in the name in device manager, then reboot and try shutting down again. Then make sure that what's under "Computer" in device manager is "ACPI PC" or similar, otherwise change it.

A friend of mine had two brand new Maxtors die on him in just a few months time. I use only Maxtor, and I've never had any problems. However I did notice the 120GB DiamondMax Plus 9 (ATA133, 6Y120P0) getting almost too hot to touch, even though i had it outside of the case. None of my two 300GB DiamondMax 10:s (SATA, 6B300S0) come close in terms of temperature. Does anyone have any experience with the MaxLine-series? Is there any difference in terms of temperature and/or reliability compared to the DiamondMax-series? My experience with older drives (from the mid-90:s that are still in use or are still available for usage) is that Maxtor, Quantum and Seagate appear to be working ok, while WD often crashes/fails. Also a few years ago (around 2002 i think) there where some major compatibility issues with the WD-drives. Most (if not all) manufacturers have had some issues at some point in history. As of today there seem to be no clear and undisputed leader in terms of reliability. From what I've read lately very few people have had any problems with newer drives from Seagate and Samsung. So my recommendation is to pick up any of those. Always use fans to keep your drives cool, it may/will extend their lifetime!

The current dir is stored in the variable %CD%. Using the command ECHO %CD% will show you what it is.

It will run ok. But more RAM will make it noticeably faster. At work I ran XP on a P3 866 with 256 MB for a while, it worked great and was quite fast. At my parents place I now run XP on a P3 1266 (previously 933) with 896 MB, that comp runs XP almost as fast as newer ones (faster than many, thanks to a fast HDD, tweaks and keeping it clean).

Are you sure your setup-file is named "Setup.exe" and not "Setuppro.exe", "SetupStd.exe" or similar? Is the path to the file correct? Change the name in the path if incorrect (do not rename the file).

I use that method to be able to unhide and remove files and folders with hidden and/or system attributes as part of my cleanup. It took some experimenting to find that out, luckily I did it quite recently.

I've checked your tweaks, and the only things that has anything to do with memory is what you've already marked in bold. "Disable Automatic Restart in the event of a BSOD" occurs twice in your file. 20 GB is quite ok for a system-partition. There is plenty of space to install all progs, keep the pagefile and all temporary files on it. My system-partition is around 10 GB because I keep it quite clean. I calculate that Windows, the pagefile and all progs (excluding games) take up around 3-6 GB. The rest is available as temporary space for CD-/DVD-recording. Do check your hdd, as you said only to be sure. Run a full scan and not just a quick one.

I don't think the Prefetcher has anything to do with it. The rest of what's in bold I also use, but I'm not sure which line(s) (if any) that may be causing this problem. In the most recent version of my tweak-file I have removed IoPageLockLimit and SecondLevelDataCache because I've read that they only apply to Win2k and/or does not work at all. I will check the rest of your tweaks as soon as have got the time for it. If someone has got any info on which memory-tweaks that really works, please tell us!

Try this in a batch-file: attrib -s /S /D "%systemroot%\System32" attrib -s /S /D "%systemroot%\System32\*" This removes the "system"-attribute which prevents you from changing attributes in file- or folder-properties. The first line removes the attribute from the system32 folder and the second one removes it from all files and folders in that folder and all subfolders. As previously mentioned you can use the /? switch to get more info. You can use -h in addition to -s i the batch to remove the system attribute and unhide all files and folders.

I sometimes get this error when I try to copy large amounts of data to (and/or from???) external- (=USB) and/or network-drives. I'm not sure whether it also happens between internal hdd:s (I didn't get it the last time I copied around 100 GB:s between two SATA 300 GB Maxtor DiamondMax10). I don't think it is any of your drives nor your memory that is causing this problem, it is most likely software related. Try different settings for the pagefile (auto or manually set it to 1.5-2 times your RAM or more). As you say it may be a memory tweak that you have applied. I also use a number of memory tweaks, but I don't know exactly which one that may be the reason for this. To avoid checkdisk from scanning drives at boot make sure you format the system-drive during Windows setup. Re-format any other drives that checkdisk keeps checking, using Explorer or similar. I've found that using Partition Magic to create/format partitions and then not formatting them in/with Windows will sometimes make checkdisk scan them at every boot. Using cluster sizes other than the default may also result in this annoying "error". For HD-checking i prefer the PowerMax utility by Quantum/Maxtor. It can be downloaded from Maxtor. It is also included in the Ultimate Boot CD It's recommended that you partition your system-drive. The system-partition should not be larger than 10-20 GB, on it you install only the OS and the progs. From the rest of the space on that drive you create one or two partitions to store your data. That way you don't have to remove everything from that drive on every reinstall (you only reformat and install to the system-partition).

By using the commands expand and makecab at the commandline. Use the /? switch to get more info on each command.

At present Vista is only in the early stage of Beta 1, and it's expected to arrive in late 2006. Conclusion: You will have plenty of time to upgrade your comp until the arrival of Vista. Vista is supposed to depend more on the graphics card than previous versions of Windows. It will require a card with full DirectX 9 support. MS states it will run on most new PC:s that you can buy today. It will probably run on your comp, but it will most likely be quite slow. There is an article on MS TechNet which states some generic specs:http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvi...t/hardware.mspx If you would like to try it yourself you should try to get a beta, either by getting it from MS or borrowing it from a friend who has it.

He meant in a .cab-file, not a file that has been modified with makecab (for example .dl_).

I thought you meant that you didn't see all because it didn't fit on the screen. Do you trace Next Boot + Driver Delays with all boxes checked? Check in services.msc that both Task Scheduler and COM+ Event System are set to automatic. If not, set them and retry. Where did you download Bootvis? Try downloading it again http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=664

I know that it is long, take a screenshot just showing Boot Activity.

Here is another thread on the same subject: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?act=ST&f=70&t=51541 It seems like there is no definite solution to the problem with Quicklaunch that works for all. Maybe you could change the first post and include all known methods?

I don't see anything in Boot Activity (checked the boxes), just post a standard screenshot (printscreen + paste in paint and save as .jpg). The most interresting parts are: Boot Activity, Driver Delay and Process Creates.

The network tweaks do apply to all Windows versions. Services can also be set in 2k and 2k3. However, finding the right combination of services for the fastest boot and lowest memory-/resourceusage have proven to be quite a difficult task. As you probably know some services are absolutely necessary, while some can be disabled (sometimes causing slow boot because Windows tries to start them but fails). Prefetch is a "new" feature in XP, it is said to be improved in Vista (Longhorn). Using a heavily tweaked and slimmed (nLite) 2k will probably boot quite fast. I suggest doing some web-searching if you are interrested in tweaking and making your comp boot faster.

Do you have a static or a dynamic (=by DHCP) IP-address? If possible try to set a static IP. You could try unplugging your network cable and see if there is any differance in boot-up speed. Also try setting the link-speed/duplex mode manually instead of automatic (in preferences for the network card). Have you set the prefetch on as I suggested? Have you disabled any service? Disabling the wrong service can slow down the boot (explorer/desktop load) significantly. Find and download Bootvis and run it (Trace: Next Boot + Driver Delays). It will show you what slows the boot down. If you post a screenshot with the result of Bootvis we may be able to help you more accurately.

I have tried Jump2Reg. I wrote that I don't need to export ...\Explorer\Advanced in order to get Quicklaunch working. When I did my tests I only exported the first key, and it worked fine. When applying all my other reg-tweaks I use both, since I have customized the other one to my preference.

There are many more examples of settings that MS named in their own way, and not what you would expect. I didn't find any TaskBarXP and have never seen it, so I thought he meant TaskBarWinXP. I'm not really sure what that value is for, I read somewhere that it was needed before (or with?) SP1 or something like that. I've done some testing earlier and Quicklaunch works for me by exporting only HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Desktop without exporting HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.

@maxXPsoft As you say the key HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced exports other settings and is not really needed for quicklaunch (but you might want to export it anyway to get all the other settings). TaskBarXP should be TaskbarWinXP (probably just a typo). You are correct about TaskbarGlomming and TaskbarSizeMove, a better name for TaskbarGlomming would be TaskbarGrouping.