TheFlash428

Sounds like the laptop was built using an image that had been prepared using the sysprep tool. You can get info by searching for "sysprep" on Google, or check out this link for the M$ KB article: SYSPREP

Is the new computer you installed the harddrive in identical to the one in which the OS image was created? Unless you have a similar hardware configuration, I highly doubt that this would work.

I think too many folks are quick to bash IE (any version) just because it has M$'s name on it. I've been testing IE7 since beta1 (which was pretty unstable and annoying), but the newest release ain't bad--I've encountered few compatibility issues with it and since I keep firefox loaded, I can always switch to another browser if something doesn't work. travisowens was mearly pointing out good reasons to upgrade even if you use other browsers--he was hardly endorsing the use of IE7 as a web browser. Personally, I like it--the tab settings are a great improvement over IE6, and I like it better than firefox just based on personal perference. Different people have different web surfing habits and different needs from their browsers; what may be a major fault in one persons perception, may not even be an issue to another. Let's all be glad we live in a world where we can choose our own browsers!

One thing to realize, if a CD already has SP2 (or SP1) integrated, it's really not going to take up that much more disk space. Installing from an XP original gold disk and running all the updates to get it up to SP2 and beyond, well that will leave quite a large footprint on your diskspace. If you're going to be connected to the Internet, you want SP2 and all the updates! (at least in my opinion). By using NLite, you can remove the Alexa you speak of, plus a bunch of other stuff that actually does take up space, like unnecessary languages, support tools and documentation. Plus, you can integrate hotfixes (see RyanVM post-SP2 update pack), drivers, and tweak it your liking--all that and have an installation disk that is reduced in size. I use this method and the XP installations I run today are faster than using a standard (non-NLited) XP CD, and saves a ton of time in downloading and installing updates. It's not so much wether or not you CAN remove a service pack; it's just that given your reasoning for motivation, I'm not sure you'd want to.

Yes, Quicktime should play these just fine. (free version).

Hello everyone. I apologize if this has appeared before, I did a search on this subject, but pretty much every post dealt with Windows updates, and that's not really what I'm looking for. At my office, where I am the network admin, we have this application that several people need to access. It is a type of application where a client tool resides on the local drive and files are access via a database on a shared network drive. Here's the problem, this is a very old application and it's not built to run on Windows XP, although for all intents and purposes it works OK, but only if the user has administrator privileges on the local machine. Because the application has to make changes to a certain registry key, as well certain program and dll files, if the person trying to use the app is not in the admin group, the program crashes and spits out errors. So what I'm looking for is a way to allow this program to run in a state of elevated privileges, without actually giving the user full administrative rights to the computer. If anyone has any ideas that would be great. I've tried several things, but none of them seem to work. Edit: Also, I do realize there is a "run as..." function, but this won't work--I'm looking for more of way to set up a script or shortcut or something that the users could click on or run to start the application with elevated rights.

My advice, regardless of what you do--back up your info to the other working HD!

I work for a DoD office, and after we install OS, we have to run a program that finds and fixes security holes in XP. It's a nice tool, but can also be a real pain sometimes--if you're not carefull this program will lock a computer down to the point that it hardly works anymore. I mention this because while building a computer image a few months ago I managed to somehow disable IE's ability to access secure sites. Most of the changes this app makes are via group policy and registry entries, and, like severach said, I searched high and low and couldn't find a single setting that "should" have broken the ability to access these sites. Questions: Is this a computer that you were able to access secure sites on before? If so, what recent changes have been made that may affect the browser settings, such as applications being installed, etc.?

Well, it sounds like Windows it totally hosed on your "daily" HD. I don't know if anyone here has any advice on repairing the files, but it sounds like it may be too late for that (I'm not sure...). One question I have is, why so reluctant to restore from an earlier time or rebuild altogether? The fact that you have access to the files on the HD after booting into the "video" HD, means that you should be able to back up any files that may have been changed. Apps may have to be re-installed, so I'm not sure if that is an issue, but if it's just a matter of saving some type of system settings, I or someone else here might be able to tell you how to restore that as well once the hard-drive has been reimaged. I am sometimes surprised by how often people are so reluctant to restore or rebuild their OS, especially if they are able to back up thier files ahead of time. Like I said, unless you have apps installed and no longer have the media to restore them (which, technically, even they can be backed up and restored). I keep my XP CD up to date using NLite and update packs, integrate the drivers for my system, and if I have a problem with my system I can just pop it in and go--so much easier in my opinion then fighting with a corrupt OS and giving myself countless headaches.

...while it may be possible, a repair installation probably won't repair your broken apps. I've always been an advocate for fresh install (if possible), because this usually causes less headaches in the long run. I can tell countless stories of folks who spent hours or days trying to repair an OS installation, only to eventually do a full reinstall anyway.

Sounds like it might be time for an OS re-build. One word of advice--always back up your registry before making any changes! Even when using an automated program that's supposed to "know what it's doing"! If the registry cleaner made a log file of what it did, you may be able to manually restore, but it would probably take less time and energy to just re-install XP, in the long run--plus the chances of ever getting your system back to it's previous state are not likely.

Since you included BartPE and UBCD in your list, may I also recommend downloading a copy of a Linux Live CD. (I use Knoppix: Knoppix). Not quite as many disk tools as you'll find on UBCD, but it loads fast, the interface is pretty user friendly, and I have definately managed to access hard drives using Knoppix that we unreadable using BartPE and/or UBCD.

I've never heard of a way to do this--plus I'm not sure you would want to. It seems to be that by re-assigning the action of right click, you would lose the right click context menus that are currently associated with it. I won't question you motivation of wanting to do it, but like I said, I don't think that it is possible (at least that I've ever heard of).

I agree with Takeshi, this problem is more serious than just an SP2 uninstall. First, to confirm your question, SP2 is un-installable via add/remove programs, but only if you installed it as an update to an original (pre-SP2) installation. If you XP was installed with a disk that had SP2 included, then you cannot uninstall it. Here's what I would do (esspecially if your using apps like Limwire): setup my PC in a way that having to re-install the OS is as pain-free as possible. Get your XP disk (I recommend following the guides on this site and using NLite to fully update your installation disk with all the current service packs and hotfixes, drivers for your system, and customizing your options and setup--but that is not 100% necessary). Back up your system, copy any files you want to keep to a different storage disk. Re-install windows. If you haven't already done so, create (at least) two partitions on your primary disk during the setup. I usually like to have about 15GB for the system partition (where XP will be installed), and then leave the rest of the disk space for the second partition. You may have to go into disk management (from computer managment console), to format and access the second partion once windows boots up. Use the second partion for all your file storage, etc., and the primary partion for the OS install and application files. The next time your system becomes hosed and you have to re-install, you can safely then reformat and install XP on the one partition without harming all your files on the second one, making the process faster and less of a hassle. If you keep your XP installation disk up-to-date create an unattended setup (such as I do), you can literally go from hosed system to rebuilt and ready to go system in less than an hour.

Correct, you won't see the option to format unless you have selected an unformatted disk/partion for the install. REALIZED is right, first delete the disk/partion you want to use by pressing "D" (if necessary), and then create a new partion in the unpartioned space ("C"), once that is done, select your new partion as the install location and you should then be asked to format the drive.

Well this is kind of vague... To actually set up the network you have what you need, although you will need wireless cards/adapters for the individual computers if you don't already have them. Your DSL modem will plug into the "Internet" (or similar) port of the Linksys router. The router is already configured to connect to the broadband device and get its IP address. All the other computers on your network will connect to the numbered interface ports on the router (via network cable) or wirelessly. (Note: This next part assumes that no configuration changes have been made yet to your Linksys router). Out of the box, your Wireless router is probably configured to broadcast its network name and allow for un-secured connections. To enable security and set it up your network, what you want to do is connect a PC to the router using a WIRED connection. From the start menu, select "Run..." and then type "cmd" to open up the command prompt. From the command prompt, type "ipconfig /all" to verify your connection--you should see an IP address of "192.168.x.x" for your active network adapter. Open up Internet explorer and type the address "192.168.1.1", which is the standard default private IP address for most Linksys routers I've encountered (this address will be listed as "default gateway" in your ipconfig from above). The default password is "admin" with a blank username. Once you've connected to the HTTP interface GUI, you can make the necessary configuration changes for your network, primarily enabeling the security features you want.

...Or add the users domain account into the administrators group of the local computer (assuming your running a domain), but bear in mind this is not best practice.

...just for anyone curious about an explanation for the above, most manufacturers (and telecommunications companies refering to network speeds) refer to a gigbyte as [10 to the power of 9] bytes, or 1,000,000,000. This standard uses a metric, or "powers of ten" rule for defining units of computer storage. In terms of computer memory, however, and the way most operating systems, including Windows define it, units are based on binary or "powers of 2" rules, so a gigabyte equals [2 to the power of 30] bytes, or 1,073,741,824 bytes. By this standard, a KB = 2 to the power of 10 and MB = 2 to the power of 20. As far as to why there is a difference, don't ask me.

Well, I would start by removing all instances of the device from the Device manager (because there are multiple instances of the device now appearing), shut my computer down and restart and try to reinstall fresh. If that didn't work, and it probably won't, I would check the manufacterer's web site for any driver updates, and if so, install the most recent drivers. We now know that windows does recognize the device, however a "device cannot start" error usually indicates that there is a problem with the driver that is installed (which is why I suggested checking for new versions of the device driver), or there is a problem or malfunction with the device itself. Are you able to plug the wireless card into a different computer and see if works from there? That may be able to rule somethings out.

Well, if the device doesn't appear in the device manager, even as a "question mark" or "exclaimation" device (indicating there is a driver problem or the device isn't recognized), then there may more to the issue. Are there any problem devices? I find it very odd that it would be getting power and not showing up anywhere.

Yeah, usually when something weird like that happens, I'll do what you did--run the scans, check the logs, make sure nothing looks out of the ordinary. But generally, if it happens only once and doesn't return, I'll ignore it, if it keeps happening over and over again, I know I have a problem.

Definately need more info here... i.e. Does the device appear in the device manager? Can you view the wireless network adapter in your "network connections" window? Is wireless zero-config service running, or is there supplemental software that was installed for this device? any other information that may be relevant?

As this is a full XP installation disk, if you CHOOSE to do a fresh install, including a re-format (which I recommend), it WILL erase all files on the disk/partition. To truly rid yourself of any infection, this is the only way to go--back up your files and start from stratch. Before doing that however, I recommend find drivers for you devices first, especially your network card. It can be much more difficult to search for drivers if you can't connect to the Internet. I also recommend (as mentioned previously), to update the disk to SP2 and apply the update patches. If your not sure how to do this, a great place to start is MSFN's Unattended CD/DVD guide. Great tools like NLite and RyanVM's post SP2 update packs can make this process a snap. One point: This disk you have is a Dell OEM XP installation CD, it will work just fine if you are using it for the Dell it came with, but if you attempt to install XP to a non-Dell computer using this disk the key will not work and you will have to contact microsoft (who I doubt will help given this situation) within 30 days or your computer will become locked out.

This is probably an issue of IP addressing. Your windows PC is probably getting a DHCP address from the wall connection provided by your ISP. Previously, your router was obtaining this address from the ISP and assigning any connected computers or devices a private IP, which it would translate prior to sending information back out. I don't know how Internet sharing works exactly, but basically for this to work, your PC would have to be able to assign an IP address on the SPARC (in other words set up a "private network" between the two) and then relay any outgoing IP packets out of it's publically connected interface. As I said, I have no experience using internet connection sharing on a windows PC (but I do work a lot with routers)--you may have to set up the IP address manually (esspecially on the SPARC), and the PC would have to be set with it's first network card as the "default gateway" for the private network and NAT would have to be used. (I don't know, is there a wizard to set this up?).

Are you logged in as an Administrator? If so, you should have access. Is it just specific folders, or all files? Are the files on the same disk or partion as the Windows installation? Worst case scenario, you can boot using BartPE or a Linux live CD (like Knoppix), mount the harddrive and transfer the files to a working directory. Perhaps with some added info we can help.