http://malektips.com/windows_xp_help_and_tips.html Windows XP help and tips to increase your productivity and help solve computer problems. Topics include Tweak UI, account management, remote desktop connections, using printers, removing spyware on Windows XP systems, DOS and Batch Files, and more. en-us Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:19:56 GMT Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:19:56 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Custom webmaster@envprogramming.com (Andrew Malek) webmaster@envprogramming.com (Andrew Malek) http://malektips.com/graphics/logo_88x30.gif http://malektips.com/windows_xp_help_and_tips.html 88 30 http://malektips.com/windows-xp-network-flush-dns-cache.html How to flush the DNS Resolver Cache if temporary problems are preventing accessing a particular website.

Windows XP caches DNS entries (these change human-readable names such as malektips.com and google.com into IP addresses that allow communication over the Internet). This way instead of having to access a remote DNS server every time you re-access the same web address, Windows can use the cached entry to speed communication.

If a negative response is retrieved when performing a DNS query, this negative response may also be cached. If temporary problems exist with your Internet connection or DNS server, it is possible that the query for a domain that should match with an IP address fails. As this failure is recorded, if network problems cease, future requests for the particular site will continue to fail for awhile as Windows uses the failed cached entry instead of checking with a DNS server. However, it is relatively simple to clear the DNS Resolver Cache if you are temporarily unable to access your favorite site:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:52:07 GMT http://malektips.com/windows-xp-network-flush-dns-cache.html http://malektips.com/windows-xp-change-resolution-multires.html The MultiRes utility lets you change the screen resolution via an icon in the System Tray or a batch file. Multiple monitors are supported.

Need to frequently change the display resolution on your Windows XP computer and tired of right-clicking the Desktop, choosing Properties, etc.? If your graphics card did not come with a resolution-switching utility, an older application that everyone may not know about called MultiRes, a 32-bit version of the Microsoft QuickRes utility, may serve your needs.

MultiRes places an icon in the system tray area of the Windows XP Taskbar. Click the icon to choose from the resolutions available for your graphics card/monitor. You can also change refresh rates (if applicable) or access the "Display Properties" Control Panel, useful if you have many windows open and don't want to hide them to right-click the Desktop and choose "Properties"....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:06:24 GMT http://malektips.com/windows-xp-change-resolution-multires.html http://malektips.com/xp-desktop-cleanup-wizard-manual.html If your Windows XP desktop is too cluttered, manually clean up unused shortcut icons with this wizard.

Depending on your configuration, Windows XP will periodically run a Desktop Cleanup Wizard that attempts to free shortcut icons from your Desktop. Not only can this show possibly hidden wallpaper, it may make frequently-used icons easier to find by removing shortcuts that have not recently been accessed.

If your Desktop has become muddled with shortcut icons and you wish to manually invoke this wizard, do the following:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:02:18 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-desktop-cleanup-wizard-manual.html http://malektips.com/xp-network-obtain-automatic-ip-address-dns.html Trouble connecting to the Internet at different locations? Your computer may be configured with a static IP address.

Are you able to connect your Windows XP computer to the Internet at one location but no other, such as a home network or your local coffee shop or deli via wi-fi hotspots? One culprit may be that your computer is configured with a static IP address (an identification number for your computer on the Internet).

Many locations including hotspots assign this number dynamically, so the following change will let your computer obtain this information from the network:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:09:24 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-network-obtain-automatic-ip-address-dns.html http://malektips.com/xp-enable-disable-control-panel.html If you need to disable access to the Windows XP Control Panel or restore disabled Control Panel access, perform this tip.

If you are configuring a Windows XP computer for new users or for public use, you may wish to disable access to the entire Control Panel so people cannot accidentally change settings that may cause problems such as making the screen unreadable, disabling devices, and disabling security features such as the Windows Firewall.

Conversely, you may be the victim of a spyware or other malware attack, or system files may have gotten corrupted, preventing access to the Control Panel. You may not even see a Control Panel option from the "Start" menu. This Registry tweak may solve your problem....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:53:39 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-enable-disable-control-panel.html http://malektips.com/windows-xp-wordpad-batch-file.html Two ways to run WordPad from a batch file - one complicated, one not.

There may be times where you want to run WordPad in a batch file from the Windows XP DOS prompt. For example, you may want to open WordPad to display a TXT or RTF (Rich Text Format) file, perhaps as documentation for the batch file.

While you may think executing wordpad at the DOS prompt followed by the name of the file should work, this fails. One way to run this application is to enter the full path to the WordPad executable, surrounded by quotes: ...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:04:11 GMT http://malektips.com/windows-xp-wordpad-batch-file.html http://malektips.com/xp-taskbar-clock-grayed-out-disabled.html If the Windows XP Taskbar clock has disappeared and is disabled, the following Registry edit may redisplay the clock.

Normally the Windows XP Taskbar contains the system clock on the right side in the Notification Area. While you can remove the Taskbar clock, what if the clock has disappeared?

Normally all you need to do is right-click an empty area of the Notification Area, choose "Properties", click the "Taskbar" tab when the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" dialog box displays, check the "Show the clock" box, and click "OK". But what if the "show the clock" checkbox is grayed out / disabled?...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:22:42 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-taskbar-clock-grayed-out-disabled.html http://malektips.com/windows-xp-task-switching-taskswitchxp.html TaskSwitchXP offers an alternative to the Windows XP Alt+Tab Task Switching.

The TaskSwitchXP software replaces and enhances the normal Windows XP Alt+Tab task switching. Similar to the Windows XP PowerToy, TaskSwitchXP shows screenshots while cycling through open windows.

Many configuration options are available in the software. You can enable transparency and animations, change window title fonts, and you can also change the positioning of the screenshots. ...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 2 Apr 2009 17:29:04 GMT http://malektips.com/windows-xp-task-switching-taskswitchxp.html http://malektips.com/xp-desktop-align-icons-grid.html Toggle whether or not you want finer control over desktop icon alignment in Windows XP.

Depending on your Windows XP configuration, when you move icons around the Desktop, they may automatically "snap" in place to a pre-determined grid. This means that while you may move an icon a few pixels to the right, Windows XP may move the icons further, making sure they line up in rows and columns.

For some people, grid alignment may make Windows XP Desktop icons easier to find. Others, however, would rather have more control over where their icons should appear. Thus, this behavior can be easily changed....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 2 Mar 2009 20:22:11 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-desktop-align-icons-grid.html http://malektips.com/xp-wireless-change-order-preferred-networks.html Change the order in which Windows XP will attempt to automatically connect to preferred wireless networks.

Windows XP may automatically connect to preferred networks unless you have configured a network in Windows XP for on-demand connection only. If you have several preferred networks and wish one of them to take higher priority over another one if multiple are in range, perform the following tip:

1. Right-click on the wireless network icon in the Windows Taskbar and choose "View Available Wireless Networks". ...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:34:48 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-wireless-change-order-preferred-networks.html http://malektips.com/xp-taskbar-restore-show-desktop-quick-launch.html If you have accidentally removed the Show Desktop shortcut in the Windows XP Taskbar, this can bring it back.

In the Quick Launch Area on the left side of the Windows XP Taskbar is a "Show Desktop" shortcut. Click this and most (if not all) windows should disappear, allowing you to view the Desktop and launch Desktop icons as needed.

Unfortunately, it is easy to accidentally remove this icon, and restoring it is not an intuitive process. However, to do so:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:01:34 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-taskbar-restore-show-desktop-quick-launch.html http://malektips.com/xp-desktop-icons-auto-arrange.html Do you want all of your Windows XP Desktop icons arranged in a group, or would you rather have more control?

Icons on your Windows XP Desktop may appear lined-up, nice and neat with icons placed into distinct rows and columns. Whenever you add icons, delete icons, move icons, etc., Windows XP may automatically re-arrange them to keep this pattern.

Or, you may have more control over icon placement and can place icons wherever you wish. Icons may snap to an invisible grid, but you may still be able to move them around the screen. ...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:54:26 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-desktop-icons-auto-arrange.html http://malektips.com/xp-wireless-prevent-automatic-connect.html Prevent Windows XP from automatically connecting to a particular wireless network when it senses it is in range.

When you connect to a wireless network for the first time in Windows XP, future accesses may become automatic. Windows will keep the name of the network in a list, automatically connecting to it in the future if it senses it is the most preferred network in range.

While network automatic connecting may prove convenient, especially if you switch between different wi-fi hotspots, this connecting may prove to be a security risk. Rogue networks may be created that share the names of common networks, such as "linksys" or "router". Your computer might automatically connect to these rogue networks, potentially opening your computer up to attacks or your information to possible identity theft if you use these pirate networks. Thus, you may wish to turn this "feature" off and only connect to networks manually....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:02:29 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-wireless-prevent-automatic-connect.html http://malektips.com/windows-xp-owner-organization-name.html Change the owner and organization name in Windows XP that appears in the System Properties.

When you access the System properties from the Windows XP Control Panel, the "General" tab displays the name and organization name to which Windows XP is registered. This information is usually requested when you install Windows, or during the initial setup process if you purchase a computer pre-installed with Windows.

If you want to update this information later, do the following:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:43:22 GMT http://malektips.com/windows-xp-owner-organization-name.html http://malektips.com/xp-network-disable-netbios-tcpip.html Close down ports in Windows XP you may not need open if NetBIOS is not required for your network.

NetBIOS, the Network Basic Input/Output System, is a networking technology useful for older computers to access networks. In many cases, especially with home computers connecting directly to the Internet, this is not needed. Closing down ports opened by NetBIOS may provide some added security.

1. Right-click a network connection in the System Tray area of the Taskbar and choose "Open Network Connections". If this icon is not available, re-enable the network icon in the System Tray area of the Windows XP Taskbar....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:13:06 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-network-disable-netbios-tcpip.html http://malektips.com/xp-dos-control-panel-event-viewer-task-manager.html Open common Windows components from the DOS prompt or a batch file.

There may be times when you need to activate Windows components from the DOS prompt, especially within a batch file. The following commands start these components:

1) Control Panel:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:31:23 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-dos-control-panel-event-viewer-task-manager.html http://malektips.com/xp_calculator_0008.html Grab a freeware Windows XP calculator replacement that's much more powerful than the original.

While the Windows XP Calculator contains many basic and scientific functions, you may need a calculator that performs advanced functionality as well as the ability to plot equations on a graph. If so, you're in luck, as Microsoft provides such a tool for free in its PowerToys suite.

1. Visit the following webpage to access the Microsoft Windows XP PowerToys website: ...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:28:28 GMT http://malektips.com/xp_calculator_0008.html http://malektips.com/windows-xp-dos-login-sessions-logonsessions.html Show a list of user and system login sessions at the Windows XP DOS command prompt.

Even if you are the only user logged into your Windows XP machine, other sessions exist including ones for network and local services.

The logonsessions command can display detailed information about all such login sessions at the command prompt. ...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Wed, 4 Feb 2009 19:43:59 GMT http://malektips.com/windows-xp-dos-login-sessions-logonsessions.html http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-display-change-message-store.html Display or configure where Outlook Express keeps its Message Store.

There are many instances where you may want to know and/or change where Outlook Express in Windows XP stores messages such as your Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, etc.

* You may have a separate data partition or drive away from the operating system's partition or drive and wish to store messages there. ...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Wed, 4 Feb 2009 03:23:57 GMT http://malektips.com/xp-outlook-express-display-change-message-store.html http://malektips.com/windows-xp-desktop-icon-layout-save-restore.html Restore Desktop icon positions in case Windows XP forgets them.

When changing the screen resolution, toggling the "Auto Arrange" or "Align to Grid" features, and sometimes seemingly for no reason whatsoever, Windows XP may rearrange your Desktop icons.

If you have taken time to organize your icons into areas of your Desktop, placing frequently-used icons near the top left, the Recycle Bin at the bottom-right, etc., this rearrangement can be very annoying. Luckily, there is a way you can save your Desktop icon layout for later recall....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:56:46 GMT http://malektips.com/windows-xp-desktop-icon-layout-save-restore.html