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TheFlash428

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Posts posted by TheFlash428

  1. Could be the monitor or the video card...I suspect that what is happening is that when you log in the screen resolution is adjusting for the settings of that user, which causes a brief loss of video (even if the settings are actually unchanged from one user to the other).

    I have seen this behavior in some our our computers, mainly laptops plugged into docking stations. I do not believe it to be a problem, just a limitation of the particular hardware.

  2. Start --> Run... --> "rsop.msc"

    This will bring the up the "resultant set of policy" and should tell you which group policy settings have been configured, as well as which policy is enforcing the setting (local, domain, etc...)

  3. I'm a complete novice at computers, and I had a blast at using Nlite to create a bootable ISO, but it ended up being almost 3500 MB, a bit too much for my 700 MB CD-Rom.

    There seems to be something wrong here...Unless you're adding a lot of stuff, your XP installation source should fit onto a CD-ROM drive.

    Since you claim to be a novice, let's go over some the key items you're gonna need:

    A computer (you already have this)

    An Windows XP CD w/ valid license key

    The necessary hardware drivers for all your laptop components to run on XP (google can be your friend here, if the manufacturer website doesn't help)

    Time and patience. Oh, and make sure you back up your hard drive before you start this!

    If you're using NLite, you will still need an XP CD...you can't just "downgrade" Vista without the proper resources.

  4. Have you tried disabling the "Do not display last user name" policy in Group Policy?

    Have you searched the registry for "DontShowLastUser"?

    Hmm...this is different though. These settings affect users attempting to log into the computer, not users attempting to unlock an already established session.

    Not sure about this, I've never experienced it myself. Are the users using local accounts or domain accounts?

  5. ... Im sure several of 'em are security patches.

    That HAS to be the understatement of the century. Several HUNDRED are labelled "security" or are actually security-related.

    I believe the statement was intended to have a hint of sarcasm...but yeah, MANY security patches in SP3

    Godd luck with SP2. I hope you have a really good hardware firewall. Otherwise you have about 10 minutes to get fully patched before your computer is (re-)infected. (source: SANS.org)

    This would only be true for an UN-patched installation of SP2. Running SP2 with all recommended security patches is just as secure as running SP3. If you install a fresh XP with SP2, I would recommend applying all updates prior to any online activities.

    Frankly, I think SP3 is great for slipstreaming into new installation sources, but since SP3 is primarily nothing more than a cumulative patch roll-out (unlike SP2, which included many changes to the OS), I don't really see the need to apply it systems that are already running with SP2 and are fully up-to-date with patches and hotfixes. IMO, anyway.

  6. u cant

    the best u can probly do is an image of your pc now & just revert back to it

    I think that's what "bradybigd" may have been referring to.

    Are you trying to make a backup of your current system so it can be restored later, or just trying to make an XP installation disk?

    There are several products that will allow you to create an image of your hard drive so you can restore it later, such as Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image or Image for Windows...just to name a few.

  7. aahh thanks for the tips icemanND,

    I totally forgot my laptop is running ntfs on C, and fat32 on D.

    So I bet the vm image was created in ntfs or something...

    any ways to convert it so I can copy the file to fat32 drive?

    thanks!

    What Iceman said..."Converting" the file isn't the problem, the problem is that FAT32 won't recognize files larger than 4GB.

    (I think 2GB was the size limit for a partition in Windows NT, but I think the actually file size limit in a FAT32 formatted disk is 4GB...I could be wrong).

  8. In Computer management, right click the Administrator user and "set password" to whatever you want.

    It will still ask for the "old" password...

    Have you tried ?

    Yeah...If you're logged in to another account (with admin rights) you can change the password as described above without providing the old password. The only problem with this method is that any files that were encrypted using the account in question will no longer be accessible, but I'm guessing that is not a problem in your situation.

  9. This is a very common problem, and can be frustrating because a number of factors can influence it.

    First, a few questions:

    1. Is the OS XP Professional, or XP home ed.?

    2. Do the computers use simple file sharing (using guest account), or do users authenticate as themselves?

    3. With the firewall disabled, can you ping each workstation from the other one?

    (from CMD prompt, type "ping [computer name | IP address]") Try to ping using both the NETBIOS computer name and the IP.

    4. Do you know if any other type of security policies have been applied to either computer?

    5. Can computer B access the Internet shared from computer A, or is it just file sharing that doens't work?

  10. For better security in this realm...

    Rename the builtin administrator account to something else.

    Set a password

    Create a new user, named "administrator"

    Set a password (or don't)

    Remove this user from the USERS group and put it only in the GUESTS group

    I also suggest renaming the builtin guest account and disabling that as well, unless you're using simple file sharing (I don't recommend that either).

    You can set a "password required flag" for users by using the following command:

    NET USER [username] /passwordreq:yes

  11. Just a tip (or request) to anyone...

    If you post a problem, and then resolve it yourself before anyone else can suggest a solution, why not post the solution anyway?

    It's always possible that someone will have the same problem in the future and be able to use the post to help them, instead of having a bump an old post to request information or start a new one.

  12. Probably need more info...

    What resolution is the display usually set to? what resolution were you able to achieve using the montior in your office? When hooked up to one of the non-working monitors, are you able to see BIOS startup information, or nothing at all? Safe mode?

    This could determine if this is a failed driver issue/hardware issue...

  13. Just hit the "Print Screen" button, open up Paint and then paste the image from the clip board. I usually save as a JPG or PNG format. It should be under 200k...and it definately should be <5MB!

  14. Here's what my steps would be:

    (I'm assuming this is a WIRED connection).

    1. Check router -- use 2nd computer if available. If it connects, router is OK.

    2. Check cable -- use 2nd computer if available. If it connects, cable is OK. (goes along with step 1). Once you can eliminate these two sources, on to the computer.

    3. If IPCONFIG shows an IP of 0.0.0.0, this is strange, but probably means that the NIC device is at least turned on, but I would check that in device manager anyway.

    4. A simple DHCP failure will usually result in a 169.x.x.x address, not a 0.0.0.0 address, which may indicate that the NIC is not detecting the connection at all. Are there connection lights on the device where the cable plugs in?

    5. Did you check the TCP/IP settings to make sure that a static IP hasn't been set?

    6. If you've done all of this (and everything else sugguested in other posts) and it still doesn't work, post your findings to these steps here.

    Also, see this.

    0.0.0.0 usually means no connection at all.

    Exactly.

  15. The number of programs you select under "customize" refers to the history list of recently used programs (the ones that are listed underneath the programs that are "pinned"). Items you "Pin to the Start Menu" are not affected by this setting--THEY WILL ALWAYS BE SHOWN.

    If you want less items there, don't pin as many. If you only want the ones you pin, then select "0" as the number of programs under the "customize" settings.

    Keep in mind that the right-hand side of the start menu will affect the overall size as well. The more items you have shown on the start menu's right side, the larger it will be (i.e. "Adminstrative Tools" or "Control Panel"). I usually "pin" the programs I want, set all my other options for what I want to appear on the right-hand side, then, based on how much room is left, set the number of programs for the amount of room remaining to display that amount.

  16. yep, from the sticker on the bottom of the laptop... 2lenovo/ibm laptops, one toshiba... cant insta with the key from any of them

    Yeah, and I'd guess you won't be able to either. You *may* be able to contact either Lenovo/ibm or toshiba customer support to get a replacement CD to install XP (preferably), or perhaps a restore CD.

  17. hi all,

    I'm trying to reinsall xp pro on my laptop with a retail cd which I've fixed to be OEM but it wont accept the cd key.

    my setupp.ini looks like:

    [Pid]

    ExtraData=786F687170637175716954806365EF

    Pid=55274OEM

    any ideas hoe to get this working?

    Where are you getting the OEM key? The reason I ask is because if you have (for instance), a Dell laptop with an OEM XP sticker, that number printed on it won't work to install XP (even an OEM version). The number printed on the sticker is nothing more than a "proof of purchase", since Dell's OEM CD's come with the product key already pre-written and they use a hardware based validation method. I believe other manufacturers like HP also use similar methods. If this is the case, you'll probably need to contact the equipment manufacturer.

    This may not be your problem, but regardless, we will probably need more information to determine what (if any) steps you can take to LEGALLY do what you're trying to do.

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