TheFlash428

Don't know if I am understanding exactly what you want to do...but you could look into BartPE, which provides the tools to create a bootable CD using the XP pre-installation environment and has the some of tools you mention above, plus allows you access a disk that may not be booting properly. (You will need an XP install disk to make this work though.) BartPE Also see UBCD4 for a more robust bootable utility CD UBCD4Win

I don't have a list of keys (and I'm not sure of the 'right click' key), but to invoke the 'ALT' key, use the % symbol, ie "%F" would be 'ALT+F' and "%{TAB}" would be 'ALT+TAB'

Beware, the XP SP2 firewall can prevent access to network shares, depending on how it is configured.

Are you sure the key is valid? Perhaps that's why it is asking you. Some well known "pirate" keys that would have worked with XP Gold edition no longer work with SP1a and/or SP2.

Here is what I do... Download the latest RyanVM update pack--this will get you very close to a fully updated version. (I would include a link, but the site looks down at the moment(?)--I'll update later if I can, a google search will get you where you need to go). Download the latest version of NLite--you can integrate services packs and the RyanVM update pack directly using NLite, as well as create you own custom install. http://www.nliteos.com/ If you are getting errors on your current disk, you may want to start over with a fresh customization--but I have seen errors like this when using bad CD-ROM drives and/or defective hard drives. The last thing I do is install BTS driver packs, which will prevent you from having to search from drivers once your install is complete--they have worked great for me, and saved me a lot of headaches. You won't be able to do this if you have NLite create the bootable ISO for you, so you will have to have NERO or some burning software that you can use to create your own bootable CD-ROM once the driver packs have been applied. http://www.driverpacks.net/ Anyway, more great info can be found in the Unattended section of the forums here.

I don't think so.....

If I understand you correctly, yes. You run a logout script just as you would a logon script (script types, parameters, etc...). Side note: As far as I know, the group policy editor (gpedit.msc) is accessible in XP pro only, not home ed.

Yes, this would work--but keep in mind that you would need to be able to load an image using Ghost or something similar. I know it is possible to actually install windows over the network fresh, but that would require a little more information that I don't have. For information on creating a network boot disk, here is a link: http://www.netbootdisk.com/

If you have XP pro, then you can also use group policy editor to remove access to the "Clear History" option. I have used this in corporate setting before to monitor Internet activity on our kiosk computers which were connected to an outside commercial ISP. We found that people were using these computers to avoid being monitored while visiting sites "unsuitable" for the workplace, and then would clear the history to avoid being tracked, but loading them with spyware in the process. Of course there are other ways to cover your tracks and there are other ways to find out what sites have been visited, but once the users realized they couln't clear thier history, this behavior stopped almost immediately. Start --> Run... --> gpedit.msc (Just like with the Registry, always be careful making changes to the group policy--there, I said it).

You are right--you should NOT have had to re-set up your email accounts, strange... Depending on the type of email account, you should be able to find the PST file where the mail was being delivered. the path is "C:\documents and settings\[username]\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook"

vb script: Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") strFile = "[path to file]" If objFSO.FileExists(strFile) Then WScript.Quit Else [action to perform] End If Wscript.Quit This will accomplish what you are looking for--I could help with the rest if you let me know what action you wish to perform.

Yup, definately hardware--but hard to specifically say which piece, this could be a bad hard drive as well, since I have seen that produce similar problems to the one you describe. When dealing with older machines like this that have hardware problems the first question to ask yourself is this: would you rather spend the time (and possible frustation) to fix it yourself, or just bite the bullet and replace it now? Different people feel different ways about it, and what you have on the hard drive may play a big role in how you feel about it.

If you are a die-hard windows 98 guy that just refuses to upgrade--well I don't know what to say other that it may be time to consider upgrading to XP. I was against XP at first--it seemed slugish once programs were installed and full of bugs and security holes, but a fully patched SP2 install of XP is hands down the best OS I've ever used. If you still have 98 because it's outside of your resources to upgrade, than my suggestion would definately try OpenOffice. As mentioned, it is free, although I'm sure if it will run on a 98 machine, but I believe so. You will be able to open and edit any Word, Excel, Power Point files with it, even those created with Office 2003.

Well this is in the wrong forum, but that's another issue... I don't know what version of Outlook you are using, or whether or not you are using an exchange server account or downloading your mail (from say POP3), but here is what it sounds like to me. I am going to assume that your mail is being downloaded directly to a PST file. With the PST file structure, even if you move content from that file to another PST archive, the size of the file on disk will not change to reflect the loss of data. What you need to do is right-click on the PST file from the outlook folder list to bring up the properties, under the "advanced..." tab you will see an option for "compact now", which will reconcile this space for you (be warned--this can be a very lengthy process on a large PST file). also keep in mind that these instructions are for Outlook 2003, and may be diffenent on other versions.

Is this user's account the primary account for the mailbox? This may be a dumb question, just trying to brainstorm. I work for the government and therefore am a little behind the times with my exchange server (still on 5.5--please hold the laughter), so I don't have much experience with EX2000.

The problem is that you will need device drivers for the hardware, which may or may not be available. obviously the devices you have only came with 2000/XP drivers. My first step (assuming I'm not upgrading the OS) would be try and see if any are available. Do a google search for "wireless keyboard mouse [manufacturer] windows 98 drivers", or something similar and see what you can find. I'm not an expert, but there is not way to "cheat" the OS, either you have the drivers to operate the device or you don't. You could try the drivers provided with it, but given past experiences, I doub't you will have much luck.

Definately not something that "should" be there. Follow their advice and scan your system!

Can you still access the folders you cant see? i.e. can you type into the explorer bar "\\NetworkShare\FolderICantSee" or "H:\FolderICantSee", where "H:" is the mapped drive (NetworkShare) in question.

Yeah, I work with Dells and they always work for me.

What kind of computer does the target drive reside on? Is it running a server OS (i.e. Server 2003, windows 2000 server), or is it a workstation OS, such as XP? The reason I ask is that the problem may be the number of connections being handled by the server(?) Are there other members on the network who are also sycronizing files to the same server? If so, are there no errors experienced?

Yes, I had signed my mother up years ago for AOL--when she finally got broadband about a year and a half ago, she decided she didn't need it anymore (obviously), and asked me to cancel it, which I was glad to do. I got to tell you, trying to get them to close the account was more painfull then ripping off my fingernails while someone poured concentrated acid into my eyes! They would not accept the fact that I didn't need their service and insisted that I didn't understand all the benifits of being an AOL member and that I should sign up for AOL broadband service. This was on top of the fact that I was being double-billed for last 6 months because my sister had attempted to add a 2nd screen name to the account without realizing that she had actually set up a 2nd account!--and they gave me a hard time about shutting that down too! I couldn't hang up the phone because they refused to confirm the fact that my account was closed! After about 40 minutes of a phone call that had me almost in tears of frustration, they finally turned off the account, but not intil after screaming at the top of my lungs that I wanted to speak to a supervisor. I will NEVER, EVER do business with that company again!

One quick note--the Outlook quick launch icon should appear automatically after the first use of the application. (mls15000: Nice script)

also try the old stand by... sfc /scannow from command prompt

Yes, I would try this first, plus run virus and spyware scans--this is definately odd behavior. You said this computer is at work, so if you work for a large company and are not a local admin and don't have the XP install CD, you may have to contact the network admin (which should take care of this problem for you anyway), but if you are doing your own administration, this is what I would try.

SysInternals has a freeware command-line utility similar (I think) to what you are looking for. PSSHUTDOWN.exe is a small executable run from the command line (save to system folder). There are several switchable options, plus it can be run from a txt file list of PC's. http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/PsShutdown.html Wake on Lan (WOL) utilities can usually be found with a simple google search, but keep in mind that often WOL service has to be turned on in the bios of the target computer.