winxpfix.com

Home

News

Dual Boot

All Win Tips

Search

BootDisk

Software List

Welcome to Windows XP Fix Zone ~ Window Xp Tip Page 31 - System Configuration Utility, Safer Way to Edit the Boot.ini File Tips, Controlling Startup Programs tip!

Windows XP Fix Zone ~ The Latest Windows XP News and Tips!

Menu

Home Page!
evidence eliminator
Vista News!
WinXP Troubleshooting
WinXP Software Review
WinXP Basics
Registry Mechanic Trial
WinXP Update & add-on
WinXP Recycle Bin Tips
WinXP Messenger Popup
Spy Software Reviews
Fix Internet Connection
Clean Boot + Tips
Message Board
Tweaking WinXP Tips
Dual Boot WinXP Tips
WinXP Home Edition
WinXP Pro Editione
Upgrading to XP Tips
XP PowerToys & Tips
WinXp BootDisk Tips
Hacking WinXP?
WinXP Support Tools
WinXP Logon Tips
WinXP Starting Errors
Win File Sharing Progs
WinXp All Tips List
Software Review List

Site Map!

Advertising on this site

How To's

Optimizer
Change XP Start Button
WinXpFix XP Tips List!
Troubleshoot Xp 3part
Dual Boot WinXP
Upgrading to WinXP
XP BootDisk How To
Basics XP 4 beginners
Clean Boot Windows XP
Recycle Bin Tips
WinXP Burning CDs Tips
Messenger Service Popup
Schedule Tasks Xp Tips
Sharing XP PC Tips
General Troubleshoot XP
Uninstalling WinXP Tips

News Pages!

Web News Page
XBOX News
Win Vista News
News Index page
News page

Links Page Here!

WebTechGeek.com
GoWindowsVista.com
activespeed-trial.com
Spybible.com

ActiveSpeed

eblaster-download.com
Free-evidence-eliminator

 

Boost pc


(?)

Add to My Yahoo!



WinXpFix.com ©2001-2008
Comment or XP tips

 

 

 

winxpfix.com forum

See Fun Videos Here!- VideoChew.com -

HOT Software Picks!

Advanced System Optimizer 30 + tools & 200 Tweaks Your PC's.

WinXpFix RSS News Feed WinXpFix.com news feed info page!


Windows XP Tip Page 31!
winxpfix.com

 

WinXpFix.com - Where We Still Love Using Windows XP!
Get your Windows XP News Fix Here!

Windows Xp Tip Page 31.
You have entered the Windows XP Fix Zone!

 

 

* Troubleshooting with the System Configuration Utility Tip!
* Troubleshooting with the System Configuration Utility!
* A Safer Way to Edit the Boot.ini File Tips!
* Find Non-Microsoft Services Tip:
* Controlling Startup Programs tip!
* Defrag from the Command Line Tip:
* Hidden Defrag Option Tip!
* SCHTASKS in Windows XP Tip:

:


Troubleshooting with the System Configuration Utility Tip!
By Raymond

 

One of the best "new" utilities with Windows XP is the System Configuration Utility. Only administrative users can make use of the utility, but it can be started entering "msconfig" without the quotes in the Run box (Start -> Run or Windows-R). The utility has several tabs.

The General tab offers the most broad and sweeping diagnostic capabilities. On this tab, you can choose Normal, Diagnostic, or Selective Startup. Diagnostic Startup means that your system will boot with only the minimum devices and services. Selective Startup allows you to specify whether or not to run other large sections of the startup process.

The other tabs allow you to more granularly modify those sections, rather than enabling or disabling that portion of the process entirely. Use the General tab to identify which portion of the startup process contains a problem, and then use the other tabs to narrow the problem down.

 


Troubleshooting with the System Configuration Utility!
By Raymond

 

In the previous tip, I mentioned the very handy Windows XP System Configuration Utility, and how you can use it to troubleshoot which part of the startup process is having problems, using the General Tab. On the other tabs, however, you can really dig in and disable smaller portions of your system or your installed software to help identify problems, or even just to customize your system to be more the way you want it.

For instance, if you know that there is a problem with one of the entries in the system.ini, win.ini, or with one of the services, you can disable them one or two at a time until you find which one is causing the problem. Alternatively, you can use the "Disable All" button and add them back in one at a time.

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

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


A Safer Way to Edit the Boot.ini File Tips!
winxpfix.com

A Safer Way to Edit the Boot.ini File Tips!
By Raymond

 

Experienced Windows NT/2000 Users know about the hidden, read-only boot.ini file in the root of your system's boot volume, and how you can change the attributes (to make it visible and writeable) so that you can edit it in notepad to make changes to the way your computer boots. With Windows XP, however, there is a much better way to make changes to that important and powerful file.

The Windows XP System Configuration Utility includes a boot.ini tab that offers a GUI (graphical user interface) way to add and remove entries to your boot.ini. It can be started entering "msconfig" without the quotes in the Run box (Start -> Run or Windows-R). This is a much safer way to make changes, helping to rule our simple typographical errors and other mistakes. It even allows you to choose and configure the advanced boot.ini options, such as specifying the maximum amount of memory available, etc.


Find Non-Microsoft Services Tip:
By Raymond



Windows is really an extremely stable computer operating system - at least until you load software on it. That's where the problems start. The more "stuff" you have loaded on your computer, the less dependable it can become, depending on the quality of the programs you choose to load. One handy thing that the System Configuration Utility (which can be started entering "msconfig" without the quotes in the Run box (Start -> Run or Windows-R) offers is being able to display non-Microsoft services running on your computer. On the Services tab in the SCU, check the box near the bottom: "Hide all Microsoft Services." What's left is all of the third-party services that have been loaded since installing the OS.

Keep in mind that this is not the same as all programs - services are programs that run behind the scenes - in the past they would have been called TSR or Terminate and Stay Resident programs. You can clear the box next to any of these services to disable it if you suspect that the service is causing problems. Checking the box again will re-enable the service again.

 


Controlling Startup Programs tip!
winxpfix.com

Controlling Startup Programs tip!
By Raymond

 

I mentioned the System Configuration Utility as a great tool for troubleshooting startup problems. You can also use the SCU for controlling which applications get to run themselves when your system starts - even if they are not causing any problems. It seems like more and more applications want to start something up with your system, whether it's AIM, MSN, RealPlayer, etc. Some of them are important, such as your anti-virus program, but most of them just make your system take forever to boot. There are nearly a dozen potential places that a program can start itself up from when booting, too, such as in the Registry or the Start Menu. This can make it difficult to track down the origin of startup programs.

When you run the SCU by entering "msconfig" without the quotes in the Run box (Start -> Run or Windows-R), and click on the Startup tab, you will see a list of the programs that are set to run on startup, and where they load from (for instance, where in the Registry, or Start Menu). You can clear the checkbox next to them to keep them from running the next time your computer is started (or the next time you log in, in some cases). If you decide to make changes to these settings, you will notice that every time Windows starts, the SCU will also run, unless you check the box next to "Don't show this message or launch the SCU when Windows starts).

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



Defrag from the Command Line Tip:
By Raymond

 

A feature of previous “bundled” defragment utilities that has been noticeably missing from previous versions of Windows is the ability to start it from a command line. Thankfully, this feature exists now in the version of the defragger that ships as part of Windows XP. Many third-party defraggers have had this capability for years, and it is essential very useful when starting the defrag as part of a script or batch file.

Here is the syntax of the defrag utility:

defrag <volume> [-a] [-f] [-v] [-?]

volume drive letter or mount point (d: or d:\vol\mountpoint)
-a Analyze only
-f Force defragmentation even if free space is low
-v Verbose output
-? Display this help text


Hidden Defrag Option Tip!
winxpfix.com

Hidden Defrag Option Tip!
By Raymond

 

In the previous tip, I mentioned that the built-in Windows XP defragment utility has a command-line option that allows you to run defrag from a command line, or from a batch or script file.

There is a hidden switch, however, that doesn't appear in the help file or in the syntax display (by typing "defrag /?" without the quotes at a command prompt). If you use the "-b" option, the defrag utility will optimize the boot files and applications (based on usage information that Windows XP tracks) but it will leave most of the drive untouched. For instance, if you run

defrag c: -b

from the command line, the boot files and some application files will be defragged and possibly moved to a different location on the disk to enable them to be read from disk faster.

 


SCHTASKS in Windows XP Tip:
By Raymond

 

There is a new command-line scheduler tool available in Windows XP, however, that you may want to consider instead. Similar to the JT Resource Kit tool, the new "schtasks" command is a full featured utility for scheduling jobs using the command prompt. Here is the correct syntax:

SCHTASKS /parameter [arguments]

Description:
Enables an administrator to create, delete, query, change, run and
end scheduled tasks on a local or remote system. Replaces AT.exe.

Parameter List:
/Create Creates a new scheduled task.

/Delete Deletes the scheduled task(s).

/Query Displays all scheduled tasks.

/Change Changes the properties of scheduled task.

/Run Runs the scheduled task immediately.

/End Stops the currently running scheduled task.

/? Displays this help/usage.

 

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

CLICK HERE TO Accelerate your Internet speed up to 375%
No Risk Free Trial, Free software offer!

Top

If you have a Pc/Windows Tip or Comment!

Home | News Page | Spy Software | Sony PSP News! | Troubleshoot Windows XP | Software Review list | Site Map | XBOX News | Windows XP Tips List | uninstalling windows xp | Clean Boost Tips | File Sharing | Web Sites | GoWindowsVista.com | ~ Software

Copyright © 2001-2008 WinXpFix.com all rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Reproduction without written permission from WinXpFix.com is prohibited. Other company/product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. This site is NOT responsible for any damage that the information on this site may cause to your system. You are responsible for any damage you cause to your system!