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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.

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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.

 

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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!

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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

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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.

 

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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!

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