submix8c

Ain't gonna swear to this, but I think there's some issues with pre-OfficeXP in WinXP (and up). It may have to do with (?) some of the files installed into the System-type folders (or not installed?). ActiveX, certain DLL's, etc. From experience, pre-Office2000 on 98/98SE/ME tends to hose some of them, especially Office95 and older. This is why MS recommends upgrading to OfficeXP (and up) on WinXP; they really don't want to support them. For the heck of it, go to the Office website (I think office-dot-microsoft-dot-com) and make sure you have all of the updates (while they're still available). May "cure" ya!

Yes. The VM Additions ISO is in a sub-folder of the VPC Install. Also is a VFD file (a Floppy image) for pre-Win9x/NT (eg DOS/Win3x). Best to use it since it "accelerates" the VPC Guest OS. The VFD contetnts have to manually be installed (DOS, ya know). The ISO usually AutoPlays and can be installed via a pull-down at the top of the VM. edit - the VFD has a BAT file you can run for install. The ISO also has a DOS folder but you have to manually install from there. Also (can't remember for sure) the later versions of VPC may not have the older Additions (DOS/NT4) so you have to get VPC2004SP1 and the Additions for them (supposedly) work in the later versions.

NIC = Network Interface Card Microsoft Loopback Adapter = a "software" adapter and you already have it - Settings->Control Panel->Add New Hardware - Let it search, then tell it "Yes it's connected" - Scroll to bottom and select Add New Device - Select Install Manually - Select Network Adapters - Select on left Microsoft, then on right the Loopback Adapter Proceed as stated. P.S. Don't forget to install the VM Additions when prompted in the VPC. You can manually select it at the top if you haven't installed them yet. It's the "VM Additions.iso" in the VPC Install folder/subfolder. HTH

??? My Profile "My Documents" DESKTOP.INI looks as you've shown. In other User-type Profiles they say "userx's Documents" and DESKTOP.INI looks as you've shown. In All Users profile it shows as "Shared Documents" and the contents of DESKTOP.INI is [.ShellClassInfo] LocalizedResourceName=@shell32.dll,-21785 In Default Profile, there is NO DESKTOP.INI, but the folder shows as "My Documents". One may safely assume that since this profile is normally not "displayed" (hidden) that when a new User Profile is created that the DESKTOP.INI file is created inserting the new User Name and "My Documents" (the name of the folder in the Default Profile) information. The actual "setup" of the New User will not occur until they actually sign on. My bet is that it's "hard-wired" in some code and you're trying to defeat it. That said, it's probably pointless to have a DESKTOP.INI in the Default folder. And you may also notice that all of the other folders (My Music, My Pictures, etc.) just don't exist in that folder when initial install is done. A "Dummy" folder, if you will, to allow creation of New Users, after which (when they sign on) everything is "created" for them. And each one of those "My Something" folders has a DESKTOP.INI in it and they all work the same. I believe these additional folders are created when for example Media Player is first started (only my profile has the additionals; this is a one-user plaything; never use the other profiles except to "test"). As was said before, all other info is in the NTUSER.DAT and there are unique SID's for each and every user. You can "Load Hive" the Default one and fiddle with it (dangerous!) if you really want certain things to happen when New created. And you never did say what customizations you were going for. It may be that some of those things are more of a Policy issue. Just tellin' ya what I have/what I "think".

Leave the settings alone. On the Host, add a Microsoft Loopback Adapter (a virtual network card), set up the NIC connected to the WWW as Shared (ensure the Loopback is selected), before starting the XP in VPC, add 1 NIC and select the Loopback. Now start XP (ensure TCP/IP address is Auto-assigned). Done!

Thought you weren't using a router? Musta meant "wireless" (that you don't have)... 1 - In DesktopPC, ensure Share the Dial-up with USB Wireless (NO BRIDGING) 2 - Connect NIC in DesktopPC to router (not the single plug; it's for connection to Cable/ADSL modem, i.e. the WWW) 3 - Connect NIC in Laptop to router (not the single...) 4 - Turn on Router, Desktop, and Laptop (switchbox in play anywhere? again, not familiar with OR wireless) 5 - DialUp/SignOn to your ISP with the Desktop Above (theoretically) should allow either Wired (when Laptop hooked to Router) or Wireless (when not). The ISP dialup will assign a Public IP (e.g. 68.1.1.255). The USB wireless will have 192.168.0.1 and will assign an IP within the appropriate range to the Laptop when Wireless. The Router usually also has 192.168.0.1 (sometimes 192.168.1.1, depending on the make/model) and will assign an IP within the appropriate range to both the Desktop NIC and the Laptop NIC when Wired. re The Switchbox - I assume it's some sort of RJ45 (e.g. telephone) Switchbox (manual switch?) that you used to switch to either the Desktop or the Laptop (whichever you were using to dial-up at the time). This item is unnecessary in the above scenario. Remove it from the setup and put the Telephone Line directly into your Desktop Modem. Use it only if you really need to use either/or (RJ45-Wired only), one PC can connect only, no simultaneaous WWW connection. No other way about it. You have Dial-up and it appears that a "combo wirless router" with a dial-up interface is rare(?). Read here please -http://www.notebookforums.com/thread113829.html It basically tells you the same thing I just said... It may be that the combo of above may be biting you. Read the Router Manual to see how to "program" it. It may be that there's a conflict if the Router is using 192.168.0.1 (Desktop ICS setup default). Instead of changing the Router, try this - - Right-click on the USB Wireless connection, click Properties - In lower pane, select TCP/IP, click Properties - Change the 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.1 This is effectively what you could to to the Router instead. Now the Laptop (when wireless) will be assigned 192.168.1.n and the Wired way is as above. edit - Oops, maybe XP won't allow that to be changed. Read the article and your Router manual. You'll get the gist. HTH... edit2 (from other thread) - Well, I just got real confused. Above still stands, but you don't Share to the USB Wirless (in Desktop), you Share to the NIC. Still have to change the Router IP address. The above linked "article" appears to be tailor-made just for you! Not sure why "wanting DSL or Cable"; that extra "plug" (the WWW one that stands separate from the others) is irrelevant/not-used. Betcha the whole problem stems from the conflicting IP address. Is that "message" coming from the Laptop? If so, just tell it DSL (a lie) since you're connecting THRU the Desktop!

NEHI is good - beats the K-pop and if it's free (+ shipping and handling ) on the bet... Still available from MS (the Server SP1 is v3.1; the XP SP2 is v2). Heck, any one of them Purples is better!

Matter of opinion... Go above and do a Search, Advanced, enter POLL in the search term, select "Malware Prevention and Security", click Search at bottom. Choose your own poison.

Express/Custom downloads to a temp folder, installs them, then deletes the original download. Some fixes are "short" versions (in particular the Express) and not Full Packages. Only what it "seen as needing fixed" is downloaded, not "all that is possible". There is an option on the left hand pane of the Update site that says something like "Administrative". This will allow you to list any/all (kind of) available updates for a given OS and download them to a folder of your choosing. Be prepared for some "sifting" to get all of the right ones, since it does not tell you which is the "latest" (some fixes are superseded by others). Use one of the two tools/downloaders mentioned, look in the Hotfix List (it's in the forum) to ensure you're satisified, then follow nLite. Sorry, but that's just the way it works...

Rewriteable can be reused many times more than that depending on the quality. I still reuse mine (CDRW/DVDRW) repeatedly, but I always back to disk first, burn/reburn to RW, then compare (I don't like losing stuff). Again, if you can afford it (lots of folks can't) I'd go with External or Hot-Swap SCSI (removeable).

Not so sure I want to download that... But may I suggest that you try getting the Office Converter Packages from MS. Chances are the files are in a WordPad or older MS-Word format. PDF documents should open in Adobe (with a warning about Older Format). Also, for Win2000 and up, add this to the registry - [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Wordpad] "EnableLegacyConverters"=dword:00000001

In addition to WUD (above) there is also AutoPatcher-dot-com. Both of these download directly from MS; only the code is kept updated as per "latest updates". There is a thread listing all latest/available hotfixes for comparison purposes. Choose your own brand. Also, many items that require "genuine" (when going through MS Download Center) will not be included/downloaded due to restrictions (e.g. "goodies add-ons" or "special hotfixes"). To answer the first question - there is a "special folder" created when you select where to download (assuming you used the "administrative download" option). If you used "express" or "custom", they will most probably be installed for you (no way to get the original packages; start over). You must have the original Full (and/or IT) packages to use them with nLite (the aforementioned Downloaders do that). Proceed as per nLite instructions.

My box - insisted on "update" as well (not NT4 btw). Looks like they are pushing for the "Live Messenger" (which I "upgraded" to). Yuk!

Don't use it, but I think Nero has something called BackitUp (or something of a sort). MS still has the "old-fashioned" NT Backup as well for most NT-type systems (don't use that either). I would suggest an external HDD (faster/fastest backup medium; wish I had one).

Krogers K-Pop! (hey, I'm unemployed right now...)

? Why would anybody do that when you were told to go somewhere where they are already listed? Each variation of Installers have different sets of switches. Search/read! Sorry, but we help/assist; we don't do all the grunt work. Some is left up to you...

Duhh! (at me) And bear in mind I do not have Vista (it's a different beastie, so you may need help in the Vista section on this as to location of some items). If you need to use the laptop in multiple locations (via the wireless), bear in mind the the desktop will have to be turned on and connected to the internet (dial/logon to the ISP) before the laptop can "connect". Otherwise, you must use the "wired" way, in which case the laptop connects directly via dial/logon. I don't have a wireless device (at the time) and have never had, but based upon above you have two basic scenarios available. Scenario two is obvious to you ("wired" it works). Here's scenario one (wireless) - No Bridge Necessary! And when you "bridge" to a "shared network connection" you are required to "un-share" before the "un-bridging". Basic order of this is ( 1 ) bridge several connections not the connected-to-internet ( 2 ) share the connected-to-internet with the bridge. So... to undo the previous, reverse the process. The bridge is called a Network Bridge and the device is a Mac Bridge Miniport, usually "bridging" several devices to a common connection point. Maybe the F1-Help didn't make all of this clear. If you have this set up un-do it as I indicated, because it's all just getting "confused". To continue (after rough explanation) - On Desktop since the USB Wireless drivers are installed, the only thing left is to share the Dial-Up connection with the USB Wireless by right-clicking on the Dial-up, clicking Status, Properties, clicking the Advanced tab, and checking Internet Connection Sharing. If you have a Network Card in the desktop (probably), you will have the option of selecting which device to Share with - select the Wireless. Now keep clicking Apply, Yes, Ok, or whatever you see until you're out of Network Connections. We're going to assume that the Dail-Up is working correctly and your ISP is assigning an IP addrees to your TCP/IP connection (since it works). The USB Wireless will now bea assigned an Internal Private IP address of 192.160.0.1 and your desktop will serve as a DHCP server, assigning 192.168.0.n (where "n" is anything other than "1") to your laptop. Ensure on both PC's that (in Control Panel -> System -> Computer Name) the same workgroup name is there (I just use ye-olde WORKGROUP as a value); if not, change it (there's a box to allow that) to be the same. This allows sharing of folders between PC's (not necessarily with "out there"). Now (theoretically) you have either option available. When the Desktop is not on, you would connect via wires (the switchbox? Dial-up? not familiar with this either). When the desktop is on and dialed-up, the laptop will have access as well via the Shared Connection. "I am not that smart" so hopefully this will work. If not, keep searching in the forum (there's a search box above) until you find more info. A quick search on "subnet" (no quotes) in the whole forum yields a wealth of information. Read a little, get familiar, then perhaps you'll get where you want to go. The only other option if you want wireless laptop without the desktop "on" is to get a wireless router; no other way around it. Maybe someone else will swing by and give better/more/accurate info than me. My setup is pretty basic - Cable, 2 NIC's, One is to Cable and shared with other, other is to basic Lan Workgroup (others connect through) and main PC must be "on" (kind of your scenario one). Remember - "I am not that smart", so I can only help so much. Whew!

It means you have to pay MS for a subscription. This is "just" a free forum.re - the Topic +1 For clean installs if at all possible. (keyword "clean") -1 (for same) - dang it, ya hafta set up everything all over again and transfer all your files. Still, clean is the bestestest.

Just to clarify/recap (you ramble a bit; apologies if that offends, but...) - 1 - hook up a cat cable between my desktop and my laptop - Works (may we assume that this is via the "switch box" and not a crossover-type deal?) 2 - "tried to setup with a usb storage device" - now that part confuses me... 3 - "win.XP wants to create a floppy disk to transfer info with" - you must be referring to the Home Network Wizard; unnecessary and can be bypassed via a tick-mark ("No I'm fine thanks, XP") 4 - "program that came with the usb wireless network device" - assume this is the "USB wire-N network adapter"? 5 - (out of order...) - "would seem a bridge between the wire and wireless" Ok, here's a little - 1 - Yep, fine because you're going directly to the switchbox 2 - clueless (unclear statement) 3 - may/may not even be necessary 4 - which one are you trying to install this to? it's the driver for the USB Adapter... 5 - which one are you bridging on? x - only ONE PC may be connected to the Internet; the other "passes through" it via the "bridge" defined on the first and must therefore have both the Internet (your dial-up) and the USB Device. (saga continues...)

@fun4now - you must go to the correct subforum (from the main forum screen - scroll down some). re This topic - no preference (use very little of it/them), but Vuze is "out there" (used it once) and it appears to be Sun Java-based. Works ok and seems to "find" peers pretty well.

Googley "CMO-CX-ICR-021" got this (a better description) - click me Claims Win98 thru Vista (and non-MS); also gives specifics of components. If you want it, get it, follow the manual, install the drivers that the honorable dencorso directed, then what doesn't work we may be able to help further.

Your welcome. Have fun, sun!

Go to RARLABS (WinRar - google it) and download the evaluation version. IT will allow extracting the EXE file to wherever you want it. (info found by google EXTRACT "X13-49120.exe"). Now go for it!

AAARGHHH! - complete instructions (simple too) just for you (and anyone else with this scenario) - clickey-clickey Urp! And you probably can use any burning software (CDIMAGE is proprietary).

In-depth explanation of WAIK and deploying Vista - mentions the WIM files - CLICK! Just googled on "BOOT.WIM" and found it. Appears that you have everything you need (I think - no gots da Vista). Begin reading above link now!