---

Windows XP Tip Page 25.
You have entered the Windows XP Fix Zone!

 

 

* Running Programs in Compatibility Mode Tips!
* Block Pop-ups using Restricted Sites Tip!
* Disable File Downloads from IE Tip:
* Windows XP provides a variety of games tips!
* Set Printer Permissions Tip:
* Giving Commands Tips!
* Uninstall Info in the Registry Tip:
* Choosing Menu Commands with the Keyboard Tips!
* Place Volume Control in the Notification Area Tip:

:

---

Running Programs in Compatibility Mode Tips!
By Raymond

 

A few older Windows programs, especially your favorite games, sometimes don't run correctly under Windows XP or 2000. Windows XP has a good new feature called compatibility mode that emulates previous versions of Windows OS -- Windows 98, 95, Me, 2000, NT 4.0. Compatibility mode can set your display to the lower resolutions that were standard years ago. If you have a older windows program that used to run well but chokes with Windows XP, compatibility mode may fix your problem.

You can set all your compatibility modem options by creating or editing a shortcut for the program, or by working with the .exe (executable) file that you run to start the program. Right-click the shortcut or .exe file for the program that has compatibility problems, and choose Properties from the menu that appears.

Click the Compatibility tab on the Properties dialog box. Click the Run This Program Using Compatibility Mode check box and select a previous version of Windows from the drop-down menu. You can also run the program in 256 colors (also known as 8-bit color, a much smaller set of colors that are standard for Windows XP), 640 × 480 screen resolution (lower than the usual 800 × 600 minimum for modern PCs), or without visual themes (with desktop themes disabled). WinXpFix.com

You can find out whether a program works with Windows XP by clicking on Start >Help And Support and clicking Find Compatible Hardware And Software For Windows XP in the Help And Support Center window. When you see the Product Search window, type the name of the program and click Search. Windows will contact Microsoft's database of compatible products over the Internet and displays a list of products that match the words you typed.

Note: You don't use compatibility mode to run programs that are specifically designed for older versions of Windows. For example, a virus checker that is designed for use with Windows 98 should not be run with Windows XP.

 

---

Block Pop-ups using Restricted Sites Tip:
By Raymond

 

A growing frustration with many web sites on the 'Net is the use of pop-up or pop-under, or completely-take-over-your-computer advertising. There are many new software packages on the market designed to block such ads from your life. There is a feature of Internet Explorer that you can use to block such ads yourself, however, if you know how. In IE, click the Tools menu, and choose Internet Options, and then click the Security tab. A shortcut to this same screen is to double-click in the gray area along the bottom right corner of IE, where it shows what "zone" you are viewing (such as Internet, with a small globe to the left).

In this screen, click the Restricted Sites icon, and then click the "Sites..." button. Enter in the last portion of the site of the advertiser you wish to block. For instance, if the popup ad is coming from www.widget.com, then you can enter in widget.com, then click add. From now on, any page from that company will be blocked, including ads. It may time some tweaking to get it to work correctly, and for all ads, but it may be worth it.

 

---

Disable File Downloads from IE Tip:
By Raymond

 

By default, Internet Explorer will download files from web sites by clicking on a link to the file, and then choosing "Save." You can prevent this behavior using the Security settings in IE. Choose Internet Options from the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, click the Internet zone, then click the "Custom Level..." button. Scroll down to the Downloads section, and click Disable, then click OK and confirm your change. Now when someone tries to download a file, they will receive an error message telling them that the security settings do not allow it.

 

Related: WinXpFix All Windows XP Tips List! - WinXP Basics 4 beginners - WinXP Updates & add-ons - Spy Software Reviews - More Windows XP Tip Pages!

---

Windows XP provides a variety of games tips!
By Raymond

 

* Minesweeper, Solitaire FreeCell, Classic Solitaire, and Spider Solitaire.

* Classic Hearts Simulated four-player card game in which the computer plays the other three hands, or you can play against others. If your on a local area network.

* You can play Pinball for one to four players.

* MSN Gaming Zone Internet Internet Checkers, Internet Hearts, Backgammon, Internet Reversi, and Internet Spades. You can play against other people over the Internet. You can also run these games from the Web site at http://zone.msn.com.

You can find these games by clicking on Start >All Programs >Games. You can look up rules and strategies on the Help menu, once a game is running. WinXpFix.com

Note: If the Games folder doesn't appear on the your Start >All Programs >menu, or if the Games folder does not contain all the games we mention, you can install them from the Windows XP CD-ROM.

---

---

Set Printer Permissions Tip:
By Raymond

 

But what if you don't want someone to have those permissions? You can change permissions on a printer in a similar way to changing permissions on a file or folder. First, open the Printers folder from the Start Menu, or from the Control Panel. Right click the printer in question, and choose Properties. Click the Security tab to view the current permissions.

You can add or remove user accounts in the upper section, and/or highlight the user in the upper section, and change the permissions in the lower section. Click OK to make any changes effective.

---

Giving Commands Tips!
By Raymond

 

Most Windows program enables you to issue commands to control what the program does. For example, the WordPad program includes commands to create a new document, save the document you are working on, print the document, and exit the program (among its many other commands). Most programs provide several ways to issue commands, including choosing commands from menus and clicking icons on the toolbar.

Choosing Commands from the Menu Bar: The menu bar is a row of one-word commands that appears along the top of a window, just below the title bar. To choose a command from the menu bar or to choose a command from any drop-down menu, click it. For example, to choose the File >Open command, click the word "File" on the menu bar and click the word "Open" on the File drop-down menu. WinXpFix.com

If you choose a command on the menu bar, a drop-down menu appears. Each drop-down menu is named after the command that displays it. For example, most programs include a File command as the first command on the toolbar. Choosing the File command displays the File drop-down menu, a list of commands that have something to do with files, such as opening, closing, or saving files:

You can see a different drop-down menu by clicking a different command on the menu bar. You can cancel a drop-down menu or remove it from the screen, by clicking somewhere outside the menu.

 

---

Uninstall Info in the Registry Tip:
By Raymond

 

All programs that follow the proper Microsoft guidelines for installing in a Windows XP/2000/NT environment will leave information about how to uninstall themselves in the Registry. This can be handy if you are looking for a list of which applications are installed on a computer. Older programs such as DOS or Windows 3.x applications will most likely not be listed in this location.

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

There should be a key representing each installed program, and under the key you will find the information necessary for the application to be uninstalled. Use caution and frequent backups when editing the Registry.

---

Choosing Menu Commands with the Keyboard Tips!
By Raymond

 

With most Windows programs, one letter of each command in each menu is underlined. Previous versions of Windows OS displayed these underlines all the time, but with a few programs, Windows XP displays them only if you press the ALT key.

ALT key: to choose a command from the menu bar by using the keyboard, hold down the ALT key while you type the underlined letter of the command you want. Or, press and release the ALT key. The first command on the menu bar is selected and appears enclosed in a box. Press the underlined letter of the command you want. To choose a command from a drop-down menu, press the underlined letter for that command. For example, to choose the File >Open command, press ALT-F, and then O.

You may use the mouse and the keyboard to choose commands. For example, you can use the mouse to click a command on the menu bar, and then press a letter to choose a command from the drop-down menu that appears. WinXpFix.com

To cancel all the drop-down menus that appear on the screen, press the ALT key again. To back up one step, press the ESC or LEFT-ARROW key.

 

---

Place Volume Control in the Notification Area Tip:
By Raymond

 

If your Windows XP system has sound, you can place a volume control icon in the Notification Area (the area of the Start bar by the clock that used to be called the System Tray). Simply open the Control Panel and then open Sounds and Audio Devices (under Sounds Speech and Audio Devices). Click the Volume tab, then check (click) the box next to "Place volume icon in the taskbar." Click OK to make the change effective. When the icon appears down by the click, just click on it once to bring up a simple volume control, which is a slider that can be moved up or down. Clicking on it twice will bring up the a more detailed volume control window.

 

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.winxpfix.com

eMail Page To - Be a Friend! E-MAIL This Page Link to a Friend!
Enter recipient's e-mail:

Related: WinXpFix All Windows XP Tips List! - WinXP Basics 4 beginners - WinXP Updates & add-ons - Spy Software Reviews - More Windows XP Tip Pages!