Vista is running slow

There are many possible causes and remedies for a Vista system that is running poorly.

-Dual Boot or Multi-boot systems:

If your computer is setup to run two or more operating systems, you can select the boot order so that only one operating  will start when your machine is turned on. Here's how:

1. Go to Start>> Control Panel>> System and Maintenance>> System
2. Select Advanced System Settings. You may be prompted for an administrators password or confirmation at this point.
3. Select the Advanced tab
4. Select Settings under Startup and Recovery
5. Under the System startup category you'll find a default operating systems list. Select the operating system that you would like to use when you start your computer.
6. Click OK and exit all windows.

-Using Startup Repair:

If you are sure that your Vista systems poor performance is not hardware or virus related. You can try running the Startup Repair feature to fix system files that may have become corrupt or gone missing. Here's how:

You will need your Vista installation DVD/CD for this task.

1. Insert your installation disk
2. Restart your computer. Your computer should boot to your installation disk. If it won't, you will need to change the boot order in your BIOS. Consult your computer manufactures operating guide for this procedure.
3. You may receive a prompt asking you to press any key to start Windows from the installation disk.
4. Select the language setting and then click Next.
5. Select Repair your computer
6. Select the operating system that you would like to repair and then click Next.
7. Select Startup Repair from the System Recovery Options menu.
8. Follow all of the on-screen prompts and answer the questions accordingly. Your system may restart as repairs are made.

-Using the System File Checker (SFC):

If you are experiencing system lockups or error messages when using Windows applications, you can try running the System File Checker tool to scan your operating system for corrupt files. If the SFC finds any corrupt files, it will automatically replace them with "known" good files. Here's how to use SFC:

1. Go to Start
2. In the Serch field, type in: cmd
3. Right click the "cmd" entry
4. Select "Run as administrator". Continue through any resulting UAC prompts.
5. At the command prompt, type in the following command:
   
   sfc /scannow
    
6. Press Enter on your keyboard

-Using Safe Mode:

Safe Mode is a very useful diagnostic tool used to troubleshoot system startup problems and performance issues. When you start your system in Safe Mode, Vista will run only the basic default Windows settings, services, devices and drivers. If your system performs fine in Safe Mode but poorly in regular mode, you can eliminate these default settings as the cause. You can access Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key on your keyboard as Windows first begins to boot.

Identify a Hardware Problem in WINDOWS VISTA

In this section I will show you how you can identify a hardware problem.

-Memory:

Normally, Vista monitors your installed memory and will notify you when an error occurs. However, for the purpose of troubleshooting it is a good idea to run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool manually to rule out a possible memory issue. Here's how:

1. Go to Start>> Control Panel>> System and Maintenance>> Administrative Tools>> Memory Diagnostic Tool. You may be prompted for an administrators password or confirmation at this point.
2. Select the option titled: "You can restart your computer and run the tool immediately".

Once the tool has completed the diagnostic process, you will know whether your problem is memory related or not.

-Hard Disk (CHKDSK):

In most cases, problems that develop on a hard disk are from either corrupt system files or physical errors. To identify a possible hard disk problem, you will need to scan your drive for errors. Here's how:

1. Go to Start>> Computer
2. Right click the hard disk that you would like to test.
3. Select Properties
4. Select the Tools tab
5. Click the Check Now button under Error-Checking. You may be prompted for an administrators password or confirmation at this point.

• Select the option: "Automatically fix file system errors"
• Select the option: "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors". Selecting this option will perform a thorough scan of your selected hard disk and attempt to fix any physical errors on the drive. Depending on the size of your hard disk, this could take quite some time to complete. For best results, avoid using your computer system during this process.

6. Click Start

-Devices:

If you have recently installed a new device on your computer. It is possible that the driver for your device is not compatible with Windows Vista. In most cases, downloading an updated driver from the manufactures web site will solve this problem. If you cannot find an updated driver for your device, try removing the device from your system and see if Vista now boots correctly.

<>Software:

Software that was designed to run in Windows XP will usually run fine in Windows Vista. However, some of the older programs will run poorly or not at all. You can try running the Compatibility Wizard to run the program or use the programs Compatibility tab. For more information click the link below:

I can't get a program to install on Vista

If you still cannot get your software to run in the Vista environment, it may be time to find a suitable replacement or if it is that important a program to your business, you still have options:

• Dual-boot Vista and the older version of Windows that has ran that program.
• Keep an older system that will run that program

System Restore in WINDOWS VISTA

If you do not know where to start and you don't have a clue as to why you're having trouble with Vista, then I recommend using System Restore to take your system files back to a time when you were not having any trouble. To use System Restore, follow the instructions below:

1. Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> System Restore
2. Click Next
3. Select "Choose a different restore point"
4. Click Next
5. Select a date and time that you would like to restore to.
6. Click Next to begin the process
7. In the confirmation prompt, select Yes.

Once system restore has completed the process, your computer will restart.

How to change the mount order in the work queue

1. Open Removable Storage.
2. In the console tree, click Work Queue.
3. In the details pane, right-click the applicable mount operation, and then click Re-order Mounts.
4. In the Change Mount Order dialog box, do one of the following:
• To make the selected mount operation the next to be completed, click Move to the front of the queue.
• To make the selected mount operation the last to be completed, click Move to the end of the queue.

To move the selected mount operation to a specific position in the work queue, click Make it number, and then click the up or down arrow to move the item ahead or behind in the queue.

How to change the size of the virtual memory paging file

1. Open System in Control Panel.
2. On the Advanced tab, click Performance Options, and under Virtual memory, click Change.
3. In the Drive list, click the drive that contains the paging fileyou want to change.
4. Under Paging file size for selected drive, type a new paging file size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB) box, and then click Set.

If you decrease the size of either the minimum or maximum page file settings, you must restart your computer to see the effects of those changes. Increases typically do not require a restart.

How to test IPSec policy integrity

1. In IP Security Policy Management, click the IP Security Policies on folder.

Click Action, point to All Tasks, and then click Check Policy Integrity. 

How to turn on ShowSounds

• Open Accessibility Options in Control Panel.

On the Sound tab, under ShowSounds, select the Use ShowSounds check box.

How To Find System Data

1. Open System Information.
2. On the Action menu, click Find.
3. In Find What, type the word or words corresponding to the system information for which you are searching.
4. Select a search option as needed.
   
   
• To search only through the portion of the console tree, click Restrict Search to Selected Category. This option starts the search at the top of the currently selected node (and searches all of its subcategories). Clearing this check box starts the search at the root node.
• To search only the console tree node and subnode names for a match, ignoring any matches in the results pane, click Search Categories Only. Clearing this check box searches both the console tree and the results pane.

To search all categories and results information, clear both check boxes. 



http://www.activewin.com/tips/win2000/1/2000_tips_5.shtml

How to add a submenu to the Start menu for a group of users

1. Make sure you are logged on as an administrator.
2. Right-click Start, and then click Open All Users.
3. Double-click the folder in which you want to add a submenu, usually the Programs folder.
4. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Folder.

Type a name for your new submenu, and then click an empty space on the desktop

To require or disable a logon password in a workgroup setting

Open Users and Passwords in Control Panel.

On the Users tab, do one of the following:

• Click the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer check box to require users to provide this information when they log on.
• Clear the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer check box to allow a user to automatically log on. You will be prompted to provide the name and password of the user who will be automatically logged on each time the computer starts.

How to enable RIP Listening

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
3. In Components, select Networking Services (but do not select its check box), and then click Details.
4. Select the RIP Listener check box, and then click OK.
5. Click Next, and then follow the instructions in the wizard.

Editing The Registry/Rules To Follow

Fiddling about in the Windows 2000 registry can be pretty dangerous to your PC's health to say the least. For a start you must remember that once you edit a registry key there is basically no turning back as neither registry editor in Windows 2000 has an undo feature.

Now then, what next? Well Windows 2000 comes with two registry editors for you to try to get to grips with, one is the good old Regedt32.exe and the other is regedit32.exe an older version of regedit. We will cover what these two do in a later tip but for now, here are a run down of rules we follow before making a registry edit, we recommend that you do the same.

1. Back up the registry before performing an edit as there is always the risk of a mistake.
   
2. Remember the keys you change just incase you would like to change them back to the original settings.
   
3. If you are worried about a setting you are thinking of changing, the best thing to do is not to change it unless it is vital to do so
   

How to Enable Auto-Complete Feature In The Command Prompt

This neat tip, Jamel provided us, avoids headaches when using the command prompt console. It'll turn on the auto-complete feature so when you type 'cd d' and hit the tab key, the console will display the list of folders that begin with the 'd' letter, and you'll be able to choose the one you're looking for, right from the console instead of typing its path.

1. Log on as Administrator,
2. Click Start, and then click Run,
3. Type Regedit and OK,
4. Double click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,
5. Double click SOFTWARE,
6. Double click Microsoft,
7. Double click Command Processor,
8. In the right pane of Regedit, double click the 'CompletionChar' DWORD value,
9. Type 9 click OK,
10. Close Regedit,
11. Click start/programs/accessories/command prompt,
12. Type 'cd d' and hit the Tab key: the first folder that matches the 'd' letter is displayed (you can switch from folders pushing several times the Tab key

How to Enable Application Compatibility-Mode Technology in Windows 2000 Service Pack 2

Windows 2000 - Tips & Tricks

How to Enable Application Compatibility-Mode Technology in Windows 2000 Service Pack 2

Compatibility mode provides an environment for running programs that more closely reflects the behavior of either Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. These modes resolve several of the most common issues that prohibit older programs from working correctly with Windows 2000. Programs that experience issues after migration may benefit from being started in one of these compatibility environments.

1. Log on as Administrator,
2. Click Start, and then click Run,
3. In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK, where %SystemRoot% is the drive and folder in which Windows 2000 is installed: regsvr32 %systemroot%\apppatch\slayerui.dll
   

Administrators can use a program shortcut to set the compatibility mode for a target program. This requires that the Compatibility-mode properties be correctly installed and registered on the computer by using the previous steps. To enable Compatibility mode by using a program shortcut:

1. Log on as Administrator,
2. Right-click the shortcut, and then click Properties,
3. Click the Compatibility tab. This tab appears only if the Compatibility-mode interface has been properly enabled on the computer,
4. Click to select the Run in Compatibility Mode check box to enable Compatibility-mode support for the program,
5. Click either Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 compatibility mode in the drop-down box,
6. Click OK to save the changes,
7. Double-click the shortcut to run the program.

How to set special access configuration permissions for DCOM programs

1. Open Distributed COM Configuration Properties.
2. Click the Default Security tab, under Default Configuration Permissions click Edit Default.
3. In Registry Key Permissions in Type of Access, click Special Access.
4. In the Special Access dialog box, click the type of control you want to assign to the selected user or group:

• To assign Full Control, click Full Control (All).
• To customize special access, click Other, and then click the types of access that you want to assign.
• To enable the user to read a value entry from the registry key, click Query Value.
• To enable the user to set value entries in the registry key, click Set Value.
• To enable the user to create subkeys on the registry key, click Create Subkey.
• To enable the user to identify the subkeys of the registry key, click Enumerate Subkeys.
• To enable the user to audit notification events from the key, click Notify.
• To enable the user to create a symbolic link in the key, click Create Link.
• To enable the user to delete the key, click Delete.
• To enable the user to gain access to the key for the purpose of writing a discretionary ACL to the key, click Write DAC.
• To enable the user to gain access to the key for the purpose of taking ownership of it, click Write Owner.

To enable the user to gain access to the security information on the key, click Read Control.





ARTICLE COPIED FROM THE LINK BELOW




http://www.activewin.com/tips/win2000/1/2000_tips_29.shtml

Adding Themes to Windows 2000

Although there is no tool in Control Panel for configuring desktop themes in Windows 2000, you can use and configure desktop themes by using the Desktop Themes tool.

1. Click Start, and then click Run,
2. In the Open box, type themes, and then click OK,
3. Configure the theme you want, and then click OK.

How to convert a volume to NTFS from the command prompt

1. Open a command prompt window.
2. In the command prompt window, type

convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs

How do I check to see how long Windows 2000 has been up?

Use the command line utility called UPTIME. You can also use it to check remote machines.

UPTIME, Version 1.00
(C) Copyright 1999, Microsoft Corporation

Uptime [server] [/s ] [/a] [/d:mm/dd/yyyy | /p:n] [/heartbeat] [/? | /help]
        server          Name or IP address of remote server to process.
        /s              Display key system events and statistics.
        /a              Display application failure events (assumes /s).
        /d:             Only calculate for events after mm/dd/yyyy.
        /p:             Only calculate for events in the previous n days.
        /heartbeat      Turn on/off the system's heartbeat
        /?              Basic usage.
        /help           Additional usage information

AVI File Fix in Windows XP

If you have any AVI files that you saved in Windows 9x, which have interference when opened in Windows XP, there is an easy fix to get rid of the interference: Open Windows Movie Maker. Click View and then click Options. Click in the box to remove the check mark beside Automatically create clips. Now, import the movie file that has interference and drag it onto the timeline. Then save the movie, and during the re-rendering, the interference will be removed.

Create a Password Reset Disk

If you’re running Windows XP Professional as a local user in a workgroup environment, you can create a password reset disk to log onto your computer when you forget your password. To create the disk:

1.Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts.
2.Click your account name.
3.Under Related Tasks, click Prevent a forgotten password.
4.Follow the directions in the Forgotten Password Wizard to create a password reset disk.
5.Store the disk in a secure location, because anyone using it can access your local user account.

How do I enable advanced security settings like found in Windows 2000

Open windows explorer then click on Tools->Folder Options

Click on the View Tab.

Scroll to the bottom and deselect (uncheck) the option that reads 'use simple file sharing'

This will allow you to see the security tab when viewing the properties of a file/folder.

Fix your Slow XP and 98 Network

You can run "wmiprvse.exe" as a process for quick shared network access to Win98/ME machines. Stick it in Startup or make it a service.
"On the PC running XP, log in as you normally would, go to users, manage network passwords.
Here is where the problem lies. In this dialog box remove any win98 passwords or computer-assigned names for the win98 PCs. In my case , I had two computer-assigned win98 pc names in this box (example G4k8e6). I deleted these names (you may have passwords instead). Then go to My Network Places and -- there you go! -- no more delay!
Now, after I did this and went to My Network Places to browse the first Win98 PC, I was presented with a password/logon box that looked like this: logon: G4k8e6/guest (lightly grayed out) and a place to enter a password. I entered the password that I had previously used to share drives on the Win98 PCs long before I installed XP. I have the guest account enabled in XP.
This solves the problem for Win98 & XP machines on a LAN; I can't guarantee it will work for Win2K/ME machines as well, but the whole secret lies in the passwords. If this doesn't solve your slow WinXP>Win98 access problems, then you probably have other things wrong. Don't forget to uncheck 'simple file sharing,' turn off your ICS firewall, enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP and install proper protocols, services & permissions."

Windows XP and DVD

Nowadays, PCs are sold with either a DVD-ROM drive, or a CD-R drive. There are drives that do both, there are even drives that burn both. Either way, those of you with DVD-ROM drives will want to know if you can play DVD movies on your XP machine. XP out of the box won't play DVD Video. DVD's video is stored in a format called "MPEG 2", and you need an MPEG decoder to get the video off the DVD into a format that the computer can show you.

Without yet installing any third-party applications, I popped in my DVD of Fantasia 2000. XP asked me which application I wanted to open the disc with and I selected "Windows Media Player" since it was the only option - the other one being "Do Nothing". When WMP started I got a message box saying "WMP cannot play DVDs because there is no DVD decoder".
As a registered user of PowerDVD 3.0, I installed it on my XP machine. After reboot, I got an error about a missing ASPI file, but ignored it. I rebooted again and the message didn't come up a second time. Update Oct. 16, 2001: After installing PowerDVD 3 under the retail version of Windows XP Pro, this message no longer shows up. The error happened under Win XP Home Edition RC2. I started Power DVD 3.0 and without any hassle, Fantasia 2000 was playing on my PC.
I don't know the exact reason why Microsoft chose not to include DVD decoding in their XP operating system, especially since Apple includes DVD decoding in MacOS 9 and the soon to be released MacOS 10.1.
Update: Microsoft announced MP3 and DVD support via third-party add-on packs, available on Oct. 25, 2001.

 http://www.freepctech.com/pc/xp/xp00185.shtml

XP expires

To reduce instances of "casual copying" (a nice name for software piracy), Microsoft has implemented a two-stage antipiracy scheme in its upcoming OS. The first stage is the installation and registration counter: this lets you install Windows XP only five times on the same system. (Note that you'll be able to install the final version of XP on only one machine, as opposed to the current beta, which can be installed on five machines for testing purposes.) The second stage creates a profile of the system to prevent you from reinstalling or registering the OS on different PCs.
To make this scheme work, you must activate your copy of Windows--over the Internet or by calling for an activation code--within 30 days of installation. Activation differs from a classic registration process in that no personal information is requested by or sent to Microsoft, just a record that a specific copy of Windows XP is installed on your specific PC. If you fail to activate your copy of the OS within 30 days, your login will fail. (Since XP is based on Windows NT-like privilege levels, you can't use your computer until you log on.)
Microsoft says the scheme should not prevent you from reinstalling your copy of XP on your PC as many times as you need to, as long as it's the same PC or close to it, allowing for some hardware changes. It's the "some" that has most folks worried. In theory, you might have to reactivate your OS if you upgrade significantly or swap out a lot of components because XP might think it's running on a new PC. So far, Microsoft isn't saying what system information the OS uses to determine the "same PC or close to it" status. That means we don't know to what degree you can upgrade your hardware before you cross the invisible line. We also don't know how much, if any, personally identifiable data Microsoft is gathering from your PC.
Microsoft says you can, of course, change at least one and possibly several hardware components--RAM, video or sound cards, CPUs, motherboards, and so on--without having to reactivate your OS. But if you try to reinstall your copy of Windows XP on what Microsoft calls a "different or significantly upgraded or changed PC" (again, the company declined to specify how different), the activation will most likely be rejected, requiring you to call Microsoft to explain and get a new (free) activation code.
Microsoft plans to set up a new call center for U.S.-based customers to expedite activation issues. Many non-U.S. customers will likely have to go through the existing, shared Microsoft technical support lines they currently use. Microsoft says it expects only 2 percent of the total installed base of Windows XP to have to reactivate the OS. Whether the anti-piracy initiative will present problems for consumers or result in fewer upgrades to XP remains to be seen. Remember, the final release is at least a few months off.

 http://www.freepctech.com/pc/xp/xp00187.shtml

Everything You Ever Needed to know about Microsoft Passport

Whether you know it or not, if you've ever signed up for a Hotmail account, you have a Passport account, too. And that's a good thing, because if you want to access Microsoft's Web support site these days, you must enter a Passport ID and a password. So what gives? What is this thing called Passport?
Microsoft Passport is an online identification system that assigns a unique ID to individual Web surfers. Once you sign up for Passport, Microsoft provides access to a variety of its own services, including the new Windows Messenger chat program in Windows XP. And, thanks to a lot of crafty business development work from Microsoft, you can also use Passport to sign in to dozens of non-Microsoft sites, including Starbucks.com and Costco Online.
Microsoft intends to make Passport the undisputed ID system for the Internet, and its ambitious plan has consumer watchdogs, privacy advocates, and Microsoft's competitors up in arms. We'll tell you what all the controversy is about and whether you really need a Passport.
What is Passport?
Passport is Microsoft's online authentication service. Once you have a Passport account, you can use your e-mail address and password to log in to and shop a variety of Web sites and services. Many in-house Microsoft sites (such as tech support) and services (such as Windows Messenger in Windows XP) require a Passport account or will soon, along with a growing number of non-Microsoft sites, including OfficeMax.com and Victoria's Secret.
Passport is a part of Microsoft's .Net initiative, an ambitious plan to deliver software and services to businesses and consumers via the Web. Ultimately, Microsoft wants to turn Passport into the premiere authentication system for the Internet, but the company expects plenty of competition in the near future.
Passport comes in two flavors: sign-in and wallet. You need a sign-in account to use Microsoft's consumer services, including free e-mailer Hotmail, MSN Internet Access, and Windows Messenger. If you have a Hotmail or MSN account, you already have Passport: simply use your Hotmail or MSN address and password at sites that require a Passport sign-in.
The Passport wallet service lets you buy services and products online without having to reenter billing and payment information at every participating site; it's similar to Amazon.com's one-click shopping. Currently, however, only a limited number of non-Microsoft Web sites use the Passport sign-in and wallet. To date, Microsoft hasn't announced any plans to increase the number of sites.
How do I get Passport, and what am I in for?
When you create a Passport account, you're allowing Microsoft to maintain your online identity. Although that sounds vaguely Orwellian, it's really not as intrusive as you might think--especially if you skip the wallet option. To sign on at the official Passport site, for example, simply enter an e-mail address and a password. You don't have to provide your name, address, or any other personal information.
If you want both a Passport and an e-mail account, sign up for Hotmail, Microsoft's free e-mail service. You'll need to surrender a few extra personal details, here, including a sign-in name, password, zip code, e-mail address, country of residence, region or city, and a secret question and answer (in case you forget your password and need to recover it). Once your Hotmail account is active, your e-mail address and password will get you into Passport-enabled sites.
A Passport wallet account requires the most information, including purchasing information (for example, credit card numbers and billing addresses). Often referred to as e-wallets, online ID services such as the Passport wallet offer online shoppers many conveniences. For instance, you won't have to reenter billing and payment information every time you make a purchase online. Microsoft isn't the only player in the fledgling online ID market. Both VeriSign and Liberty Alliance, the latter is an industry consortium led by Sun Microsystems, are developing competing authentication systems.
Can I use Passport on my site?
As you may have heard, Microsoft has also made Passport available to Web developers, so if any Webmaster wants his or her site to have a built-in ID system, there's no need to reinvent the wheel. To put Passport on your site, you must install Passport Manager software on your Web server. For more information on how to Passport-enable your site, check out this Business Services page. One of the benefits of online authentication systems such as Passport is that they save Net businesses from the expense and hassle of creating their own ID schemes. Currently, Microsoft is waiving licensing fees for businesses, though it plans to charge a "nominal" annual fee in the future.
What is .Net, and how is Passport related to it?
Microsoft .Net is Microsoft's platform for delivering Web services to a variety of Internet-connected devices (such as handhelds and phones), regardless of programming language or operating system, including Mac, Linux, and Windows. In theory, .Net will allow different applications on different platforms to communicate and share data over the Internet. It's the foundation of Microsoft's software-as-services business model. (The Redmond company ultimately plans to charge subscription fees for the use of its applications.) Windows XP features the first batch of .Net services, including Windows Messenger, Web Publishing Wizard, and the Online Print Ordering Wizard (for purchasing paper prints of digital photos). Passport is the authentication system for .Net, so you'll need a Passport account to use future and current .Net services.
Will Passport help Microsoft monopolize the Internet?
Microsoft already dominates the PC software market, from operating systems to browsers to office suites. But it's too early to say who will control the online authentication market. Passport isn't the only player in the online ID game. Liberty Alliance, a consortium led by Sun Microsystems, General Motors, Fidelity Investments, and other industry titans, plans to launch a competing service. However, it's unclear when this service will be ready or even what its name will be. So far, Passport is the best-developed online authentication scheme. In any event, once the competing Net ID systems are available, Microsoft claims that Passport will be interoperable with them, similar to the way banks and their respective ATMs share financial information.
What's all the hoopla about Passport and security?
In the wake of two recent, well-publicized security breaches involving Hotmail and Microsoft's Internet Information Server, some analysts and privacy advocates question Microsoft's ability to ensure customer security. Microsoft is also a popular target among unscrupulous hackers, who are constantly trying to find holes in various Microsoft programs.
To be fair, Microsoft does as much as any other company to protect your data from hackers and thieves. According to the company, your information is stored on secure servers in a controlled environment, safe from hackers and physical intruders. When you log in to or buy something from a Passport-enabled site, the server sends your billing and contact information in encrypted form (using the Triple DES encryption). Still, potential Passport customers should consider these security issues before signing up--or deciding not to.
Will anyone sell my Passport information?
Security aside, privacy groups such as the Electronic Privacy Information Center are apprehensive about Microsoft's and other Passport participants' plans for your data. For example, once you start using your Passport account, will vendors track your Net activities and purchases? Will they sell your personal data to marketers? Microsoft says they won't. Passport's privacy policy lets you, the consumer, choose (during account setup) whether to grant Microsoft the right to share your data with third parties. And Passport's architecture doesn't allow Microsoft to see what you're buying online, according to Directions on Microsoft analyst Matt Rosoff. Microsoft possesses only the information you surrendered at sign-up (e-mail address, password, and so on). While Microsoft can share this information with its Passport partners--such as when you sign on to a participating site--it can't share it with other companies without your consent.
But what about Passport partner sites? Unfortunately, things get a little murky here. While Microsoft insists that its partners must have privacy policies, it does not dictate the terms of these policies. Microsoft "strongly encourages" Passport users to read its partners' privacy policies before they log in to or share information with a partner site.
What's a Kids Passport?
Microsoft offers a Passport service for pups, but it's designed to keep your children safe while they surf (rather than to get them shopping). Many Web sites customarily collect personal information from visitors, regardless of age. But according to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), commercial sites must obtain parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information on anyone under 13. Microsoft's Kids Passport service is designed to help enforce that rule.
The Kids Passport lets parents control what information their children share with Passport sites. When your child tries to sign on to or share information with a Passport site, he or she is denied access until approval is received from a parent. If you're in the same room as your child, you can walk over to the PC and enter your Passport ID and password to allow her access to, say, MSN.com. If you're at work, your child can e-mail you a request for permission to enter the site. Kids Passport is free, but you will need to provide a credit card number to set up an account. (Microsoft says it uses this information to verify your identity.)

Passport options
Can I use Passport if I don't have Windows?
Despite the Microsoft label, Passport isn't just for Windows. Whether you have a Mac, a Linux machine, or a Unix box, you can sign up for Passport as long as you have a Web browser.
Can I pass on Passport and still buy stuff on the Web?
If you'd rather not shop the Microsoft way, don't panic. You don't need Passport to shop online--well, not yet, anyway. Major retail Web sites such as Amazon.com and Kmart's BlueLight.com have their own proprietary authentication systems. For instance, once you've made a purchase at Amazon, the site stores your name, credit card number, and mailing address in its own database. As frequent Amazon shoppers know, the next time you buy the latest Harry Potter epic, your billing and payment information will appear automatically in the appropriate fields (after you enter your password, of course). And, like Amazon, Passport offers single-click shopping.
That said, however, you will need Passport to shop at many participating sites, such as Starbucks.com. Some vendors, however, including Costco Online, accept Passport but also allow you to register directly with the site without going through Passport.
Can I use Windows XP without Passport?
We've all heard rumors that Microsoft forces XP users to sign up for Passport. Well, we're happy to report that it's not true. Neither XP's product activation nor its product registration will automatically register you for the Passport service.
That doesn't mean XP is Passport-free. Some elements of the OS do require a Passport account, including Windows Messenger, the built-in upgrade to Microsoft's MSN Messenger chat program. (Of course, MSN Messenger also requires Passport, so it's not a major change.)
Do I really need Passport?
If you regularly access Microsoft content sites, such as MSN or bCentral, or if you want to use Hotmail, Windows Messenger, or even MSN Messenger, you will need a Passport account. You'll also need one if you use Microsoft software and want access to online technical support. But plenty of sites on the Web are still Passport-free.

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XP File Sharing and Permissions

File sharing and permissions in Windows XP seem complicated.

Microsoft provides a Knowledge Base article, but reading it is like walking through molasses: It describes in infinite detail a file security system based on a 1-to-5 scale. However, if you look for this 1-to-5 scale anywhere in your security-settings interface, you may come away a little confused. These numbers are nowhere to be found.

Microsoft's 1-to-5 scale means nothing to the individual user and relates in no way to the actual practice of setting your security protocols. Enter the Screen Savers. We are here to explain it to you.

The security settings the user actually sets relate to read access, write access, shared folders, and password protection. These features are available in both Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional, however the features only work if the operating system is installed with NTFS. FAT32 does not support the file permissions described here.

You can choose to install Windows XP Home using NTFS, but you should use a FAT32 file system if you are dual booting and want to see the contents of your Windows 95, 98, or Me partition from your XP partition. Your file system is not set in stone when you install Windows XP. You always can change your file system from FAT32 to NTFS without losing any of your data; however, the transition is one-way only.

There is no going back to FAT32 from NTFS unless you grab a copy of Partition Magic. Microsoft recommends you install Windows XP Home with FAT32 if you intend to install more than one OS on your computer or if your hard drive is less than 32GB.

If you have Windows XP Home or Professional running NTFS, you can hide files and entire folders from prying eyes. When you set up multiple user accounts on one machine, any user with administrator access can view the documents in another's My Documents folders. To protect a folder, right-click it, choose Properties, the Share tab, and select "make this folder private." No one, not even a fellow system administrator, can access these most secret files.

Every file or folder contained within whichever folder you choose to make private will take on the settings of the parent folder. If the administrator does not have a password to the account, Windows XP will prompt the user to make a password or risk subjecting his or her private work to public scrutiny. No Windows password means no protected files.

A person who logs in as a guest or as a user without administrator privileges cannot see the contents of any other user's My Documents folder, even if the folder has not been explicitly made private. The user with limited privileges can, however, set a password and protect his or her documents from the prying eyes of the administrators. Windows XP is all about privacy.

It is a nice feeling to keep your personal tax documents secure from the passing lookey-loo. It's about time Microsoft made snooping your computer more difficult than snooping your medicine cabinet.




ARTICLE COPIED FROM THE LINK BELOW


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Compatibility Mode Make older programs run in Windows XP

If you're having trouble running older programs originally developed for previous versions of Windows, you're not out of luck. Luckily for consumers, Microsoft built Compatibility Mode into XP. Compatibility Mode allows you to run a program using the shell of the original program it was developed for.


Here's how to access a program's Compatibility Mode in XP:


Find the executable or program shortcut icon you'd like to run.
Right-click the icon and select Properties.
Click the Compatibility tab and place a checkmark next to the text labeled "Run this program in compatibility mode."
Select the operating system that the program was originally intended to run on.
You may need to fine-tune the three fields under "Display Settings" if an older program requires 640x480 resolution or 256 colors.
Click Apply.

Try starting the program after making these changes. If it still gives you trouble, try a different operating system. If the program was written for Win95 and worked fine in Win98, there's nothing that says it still won't work fine with Win98.



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TroubleShoot Power Management

Windows 7 can tell you how much power your system uses or provide detailed information about the power usage and issues caused by each application and device. This way you can optimize the way your battery is used, making It last longer. Press the Windows Key and type “POWERCFG –ENERGY –OUTPUT ”, and it will create a file called energy-report.html in the folder specified by you, after observing your PC for 60 seconds.

Internet Explorer 8 Compatibility Mode

If your websites don’t render correctly, you might need to enable Internet Explorer 8 display them in compatibility view. This issue is because of the updated rendering engine, which causes a lot of trouble. To do it, open Internet Explorer, go to Tools -> Compatibility View Settings and check “Display all websites in compatibility view”, then click Ok.

That’s it! There you go - 70 very useful tips and tricks for Microsoft Windows 7. Maybe you knew some of these but I’m sure there are some that you did not heard of. They can prove very useful and can save you a lot of time while using Windows 7. Enjoy!

I’m sure you’re asking yourself where’s the tip number 70? Ok, the tip or advice that will help you work faster and more efficiently is

Make The System Tray Clock Show The AM / PM Symbols

By default Windows 7 does show the time in 24 hour format, so if you want to get the AM / PM symbols, press the Windows Key, type “intl.cpl” to open Regional and Language Options, go to Addition Settings -> Time where Long Time is set to HH:mm and change it to HH:mm tt, for example, where tt is the AM or PM symbol ( 21:12 PM ). To change it to the 12 hour format, you need to type it like this hh::mm tt ( 9:12 PM ).

Open Multiple Instances Of Windows Explorer Via The Taskbar

If you want to run more instances of the Windows Explorer just by hitting the startbar, you can do it by following these steps: Unpin Windows Explorer from the Taskbar, then press the Windows Key, go to Accessories, right-click Windows Explorer, go to Properties and change the shortcut path to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} ( if you want it to default to My Computer ) or %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5} ( if you want it to default to Libraries ). Now repin Windows Explorer to your Taskbar and you’re done. All that is required for opening more instances of it is just a click of the middle mouse button. If you aren’t pleased with what you’ve done, change the shortcut path back to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe.

Make 64bit Windows Media Player Default ( only for X64 users )

Windows comes with the 32bit version of Media Player by default. If you are a x64 user, you can keep the system cleaner by only installing one set of codecs. To do this, press the Windows Key, type “command”, right-click on Command Prompt and hit “Run as administrator”, then type “unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:64?. After that, press the Windows Key, type “regedit”, go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\wmplayer.exe\, double click on value and change “%ProgramFiles(x86)” to “%ProgramFiles%”. Now you should be using the 64bit Windows Media Player.

Change Default Save Location For Files

Windows 7 is a bit different from Vista, because it saves Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music under the Public folder inside C:\Users. You might not want to save your documents, pictures, videos or music to this location, but create your own locations and you can do it quite easy. Press the Windows Key, Click your username and double-click on the folder you wish to change. Then you will see Includes: 2 library locations. Click on that text, right-click on the folder you wish to set like default and click “Set as default file location”, then click Ok.

Improve Desktop Window Manager For Nvidia Graphics

Sometimes the animations for Desktop Window Manager don’t look very well and aren’t smooth enough and this is cause because Desktop Window Manager renders effects with no transparency and blurring, but you can turn off animations for more pleasant graphics. Press the Windows Key, right-click on Computer, go to Properties -> Advanced System Settings -> Performance -> Settings and clear “Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing”. Click OK to finnish

Use Virtual Hard Disk Files

You can now create and manage virtual hard disks files in Windows 7 as if they were real disks. This can allow you to use a live Windows installation on the virtual disk without the need to boot the virtual Computer. To create a virtual disk you have to press the Windows Key, right-click on Computer, then go to Manage -> Disk Management -> Action -> Create VHD. There you can specify the location and size of your virtual hard disk file.

To attach the virtual disk file, press the Windows Key, right-click Computer, then go to Manage -> Disk Management -> Action -> Attach VHD and you have to specify the location and if it’s read only or not.

To initialize a virtual hard disk, press the Windows Key, right-click on Computer, go to Manage -> Disk Management -> Action -> Attach VHD, specify the location, click Ok, then right click on the virtual disk and click on Initialize Disk. Select the partition style you want to use and then right-click on the unallocated space and click “New Simple Volume” and follow the instructions wizard. Now, a new hard drive appears in Windows Explorer and you can use it as a real partition.