GrofLuigi

Try inside BIOS. Some laptops can calibrate from there (needs to be discharging for many hours). And, games usually drain more cpu usage = more electricity = less batery time. GL

That's a very dangerous way of doing it. System key usualy contains more entries than just this one. Better would be: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System] "RSoPLogging"=- GL

Same here, but you could play with ROUTE.EXE in prompt. Example: type "route print" in command box. GL

UserPreferencesMask is your key here. Search for it (it takes rather complex values). But I don't know what happens during install phase and whether it gets overwritten.GL

Maybe this or maybe this? If you want to close it try setting: Hope this helps.GL

It must be the driver. From your specs, I can't conclude definitely what is your mobo, but I had similar issues with Nforce2. I've used Realtec AC97 drivers successfuly from version 3.70 on, but on version 3.80, it stopped playing sounds! Everything was OK in device manager, sound control panel and everywhere else, but no sound came out of the speakers. You can imagine my frustration... Version 3.77 was the last one that worked, and I haven't tried newer versions ever since - went back to Nvidia's drivers. In your case, I'd try with uninstalling the driver, then installing ANOTHER version of the driver (newer or older), booting in safe mode... If all else fails, format C: and reinstall windows. GL

This way, he will also lose "Send to Desktop (create shortcut)". GL

It's in "Folder Options". Don't know the exact regkey, but you could find it out with RegMon. GL

You really should've put a question mark (?) in your title. GL

Maybe your card isn't different, but your case is. (Cooling and airflow!) If someone overclocked something, that doesn't mean everyone can. GL

To avoid this problem, set the service DCOM Server Process Launcher in Services.msc to Automatic. Proof: google. GL

If I may add, I have removed it from dozens of computers in the last few years and never had any complaints. Most people didn't even notice. GL

NetTech+Guy, Glad that worked. Anyhow, I should mention that this is not something I've thought of , but I found it on some forum dedicated to firewalls, with sections dedicated to some of the most popular apps. Unfortunately, I've just copied the rules (there are more of them) for reference to a text file, so I cannot give due credit. GL

dtkenmo, enter recovery console (you said you could enter it) 1. (optional) type "listsvc" and check every line carefully 2. type "enable vgasave SERVICE_BOOT_START" 3. type "exit" you're set! GL

I don't know Sygate, but these are some "unofficial" rules for Kerio related to ping: 1. Description: Out Needed To Ping And TraceRoute Others Protocol: ICMP Direction: Outgoing ICMP Type: Echo Remote Endpoint: Any Action PERMIT 2. Description: In Needed To Ping And TraceRoute Others Protocol: ICMP Direction: Incoming ICMP Type: Echo Reply, Destination Unreachable, Time Exceeded Remote Endpoint: Any Action PERMIT 3. Description: In Block Ping and TraceRoute ICMP (Notify) Protocol: ICMP Direction: Incoming ICMP Type: Echo Remote Endpoint: Any Action DENY 4. Description: Out Block Ping and TraceRoute ICMP (Notify) Protocol: ICMP Direction: Outgoing ICMP Type: Echo Reply, Destination Unreachable, Time Exceeded Remote Endpoint: Any Action DENY 5. Description: Block ICMP (Logged) Protocol: ICMP Direction: Both ICMP Type: Echo Reply, Destination Unreachable, Source Quench, Redirect, Echo, Time Exceeded, Parameter Prob, Time Stamp, Time StampReply, Info Request, Info Reply, Address, Address Reply, Router Advertisement, Router Solicitation (ALL) Remote Endpoint: Any Action DENY I hope you can somehow "translate" them for your needs. Note: Kerio would execute them from top to bottom, i.e. 1, then 2, then 3 etc. For you to be pingable by others, you need to change 3. and 4. to "PERMIT". GL

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\DataBasePath It usually points to the LOCATION given by Avatar. Lmhosts is also there. And others. Keep them all together. GL

@azagahl: Try disabling the DNS Client service. I've had many problems with it together with HOSTS file on various computers (mostly slow booting). GL

...they did?! GL

Stop taking baths. GL

Kishiro, thank YOU for the information. However, this is one of the few parts of Windows I would not poke too deep - the filesystem. For starters, I will just disable FltMgr service and see what happens - if it doesn't boot, that can be easily reverted with Recovery Console. But, I am really uncomfortable with pathching - just because this is not so big of a problem. As for the empty file, I deal with it easily: For the System Volume Information folder, I add myself as a user with full permissions (inheritable). Now I can do whatever I like with the empty file. Most often, it gets automatically deleted by a "cleaning" program. Even it gets recreated, It doesn't get into anybody's way. I considered taking away system's permissions on that folder and storing my files in there, but naah... I'm not THAT geeky. GL

Fully agree here, and it definitely bothers defraggers (if you can't read or delete it, most probably no program can). Or if you delete it, when it is recreated, even if it's 0 bytes long, it takes up a cluster and FRAGMENTS the free space. Same for the folder. I've been trying to fight with it for some time and found the string "MountPointManagerRemoteDatabase" inside two files in system32/drivers: fltMgr.sys and mountmgr.sys but I'm still reluctant to disable these services/delete files - and I don't recomend anyone to do it. I've had many BSODs because of disabling services I KNOW that are unnecessary for me, but 'someone' apparently knows better. I never use dynamic disks or do volume shadow copies or connect direct parralel... but hey... Has anyone got World Standard Teletext Codec to work or seen any use of it? Why should I keep 2+ Mb of junk (in system32 only, not to mention registry and other places) if I don't and never will use direct play? ...Someone please stop me! GL