This trick requires Standard Network Interface cards (NIC) that are connected to ADSL modems, or when using any directly-connected USB ADSL modem.
To speed up the Internet connection speed we need to configure a special buffer in the computer's memory in order to enable it to better deal with interrupts made from the NIC or the USB modem.
This tip is only recommended if you have 256MB RAM or higher.
Step 1 - Identify the IRQ used by the NIC/USB modem
Follow these steps:
1. Open the System Information tool by running MSINFO32.EXE from the Run command.
2. Expand System Summary > Hardware Resources > IRQs.
3. Look for the listing made for your NIC (in my case - a Intel® PRO/100+ Management Adapter). Note the IRQ next to the specified line (in my case - IRQ21).
In case of USB modems you will first need to find the right USB device used by your modem. Follow these steps:
1. Open the Device Manager tool by running DEVMGMT.MSC from the Run command (or by right-clicking My Computer > Hardware tab > Device Manager button).
2. Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus controllers and expand it.
3. Right-click the USB Root Hub and select Properties. Note that you might need to do so for all listed USB Root hubs (if there are more than one) in order to find the right one.
4. In the Power tab, look for your USB ADSL modem.
5. In the Resources tab look for the assigned IRQ (in this case - IRQ21).
6. This is the IRQ we're looking for.
Lamer note: IRQs and modem names might vary...
Step 2 - Modify the system.ini file
Follow these steps:
1. Run SYSEDIT.EXE from the Run command.
2. Expand the system.ini file window.
3. Scroll down almost to the end of the file till you find a line called [386enh].
4. Press Enter to make one blank line, and in that line type IrqX=4096 where X is the designated IRQ number we found in step #1, in my case it's IRQ21.
Note: This line IS CASE SENSITIVE!!!
5. Click on the File menu, then choose Save.
6. Close SYSEDIT and reboot your computer.
You are done. Speed improvement will be noticed after the computer reboots. The most speed improvement is visible with USB.
::General Tips::
1. If your connection speed is slow then don’t use downloads, e-mail, chat, and audio or video streaming simultaneously. Use one or two service at a time.
2. Upgrade your connection speed.
3. Connect to the internet through an Ethernet port.
4. Increase your RAM.
5. Use fast browsers (e.g. Mozilla Firefox).
Before Windows can see your Drive, it first has to appear in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). When getting error messages from Windows that state the CD or DVD drive is not detected, check to make sure it appears in the BIOS. Here's how:
1. Boot up your PC.
2. At the first logo screen, press F1 repeatedly until you see the BIOS setup screen.
3. Using the left and right arrows to navigate, select Main (usually at the top left).
4. The CD or DVD Drive name should be listed next to Primary Slave, Secondary Slave or Secondary Master.
5. Navigate to Exit and exit without saving changes.
If it is listed in the BIOS but the CD/DVD Drive no longer functions, then a ribbon cable could have come loose. If that is not the case either, try uninstalling the device in Device Manager. Here's how:
1. Go to Start>> Control Panel>> System>> Hardware tab>> Device Manager button.
2. In Device Manager, locate and expand the entry titled "DVD/CD-ROM drives".
3. Right click the appropriate drive and select "Uninstall" from the resulting menu.
4. When prompted, confirm that you would like to remove the selected device.
5. At the "Action" menu, select "Scan for hardware changes".
6. Click out of the Device Manager and the Control Panel.
If none of the above has worked, it is likely that your CD or DVD Drive no longer functions. Replace the drive with a compatible drive. See your manufactures web site for details.
A hotfix was originally the term applied to software patches that were applied to live i.e. still running systems. Similar use of the terms can be seen in Hot Swappable Disk Drives. Lately the term has been more generally used as described below.
The more recent usage probably originated due to Software vendors wanting to either avoid the term Patch or give the impression that they were proactively servicing their product.
A hotfix is a single, cumulative package that includes one or more files that are used to address a problem in a software product (i.e. a software bug). Typically, hotfixes are made to address a specific customer situation and may not be distributed outside the customer organization.
In a Microsoft Windows context, hotfixes are small patches designed to address specific issues, most commonly to freshly-discovered security holes. These are small files, often automatically installed on the computer with Windows Update (although some may only be able to be obtained via Microsoft Support) and could contain a hot patch eliminating the need for a reboot.
Windows XP is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. The name "XP" is short for "experience".
Windows XP is the successor to both Windows 2000 Professional and Windows Me, and is the first consumer-oriented operating system produced by Microsoft to be built on the Windows NT kernel and architecture. Windows XP was first released on 25 October 2001, and over 400 million copies were in use in January 2006, according to an estimate in that month by an IDC analyst. It is succeeded by Windows Vista, which was released to volume license customers on 8 November 2006, and worldwide to the general public on 30 January 2007. Direct OEM and retail sales of Windows XP ceased on 30 June 2008, although it is still possible to obtain Windows XP from System Builders (smaller OEMs who sell assembled computers) until 31 July 2009 or by purchasing Windows Vista Ultimate or Business and then downgrading to Windows XP.
The most common editions of the operating system are Windows XP Home Edition, which is targeted at home users, and Windows XP Professional, which offers additional features such as support for Windows Server domains and two physical processors, and is targeted at power users, business and enterprise clients.
Windows XP Media Center Edition has additional multimedia features enhancing the ability to record and watch TV shows, view DVD movies, and listen to music. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is designed to run ink-aware applications built using the Tablet PC platform. Two separate 64-bit versions of Windows XP were also released, Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 (Itanium) processors and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for x86-64. There is also Windows XP Embedded, a componentized version of the Windows XP Professional, and editions for specific markets such as Windows XP Starter Edition.
1. Click the "Start" menu button to open the Start menu.
2. Click "Run."
3. Type "regedit" into the text field and press "Enter."
4. Access the many different entries in your Windows XP registry. It is separated into primary sections: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_USERS and HKEY_CURRENT CONFIG. Each section contains a different set of entries related to different aspects of Windows XP operation.
5. Click on one of the plus-signs (+) next to one of the root directories, opening a more detailed list. This second level will have more directories to choose from, and will make it easier for you to find entries you need to clean the registry.
6. Delete entries in the registry that you know are either causing conflicts or are no longer necessary. Do this by pressing the "Delete" key, or by right-clicking on your mouse and choosing "Delete entry."
7. Invest in a third-party registry application to help you clean your Windows XP registry. Several programs are available that do the dirty work for you. Some even include backup capabilities to retrace their steps in the event of a critical error.
8. Clean your boot records by changing which programs load themselves at startup. Click through both the LOCAL_MACHINE and CURRENT_USER directories until you reach Software/Microsoft/Windows/Run and RunOnce. From here, you can clean out registry entries that are causing certain programs to run on startup.
1. Search for the button on CPU Box.
2. There are usually two buttons- One for Switch ON/OFF the computer and second one for rebooting the computer.
3. Press the second button for rebooting and wait till the computer starts again.
Windows XP Professional comes equipped with its own backup tool. While there are many 3rd party software that will perform this operation too, Windows XP's is just fine. If you are a Windows XP Home user, follow the steps outlined below.
>>Installing Windows Backup Utility in Windows XP Home Edition:
1. Insert the Windows XP Installation CD in to your CD drive.
2. Select "Perform Additional Tasks" from the XP Welcome screen.
3. Select, "Browse this CD".
4. You will now be taken in to Windows Explorer. From here, you will need to double click on the following folders: ValueAdd>> Msft>> Ntbackup.
5. With the Ntbackup folder open, double click the file titled: Ntbackup.msi
The Windows XP Backup Utility will now be installed on to your Windows Application.
>>Using Windows XP Backup Utility:
To access the Windows XP Backup Utility, go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> Backup.
Or- you can simply go to Start>> Run. Type in: ntback [Enter] or click OK.
Once you've started the Backup Wizard you will be taken to an opening page. Just select Next here and then select "Backup Files and Settings" from the following page and then click Next again. You should now be at the "Backup or Restore Wizard. Here, you are faced with a few choices of what you would like to backup. the choices are:
* My documents and settings:
This is a good choice for a single user. This will backup your email messages to include your address book, personal Windows registry settings and all data files.
* Everyone's documents and settings:
If you share your computer with a few other people that have their own personalized settings, this would be a good backup choice.
* All information on this computer:
In making this selection, you will be backing up every stitch of information that resides on your Windows XP application. Depending on the amount of software you have installed, this backup could encompass many gigabytes of information. This is not a good backup choice as it is pretty much a waste of time and space.
* Let me choose what to backup:
This is a good selection for people that have a good backup strategy in mind. Once you've selected this option, you will be taken to an "Items to backup" page that lists all of the available backup options for your Windows Application. It really is a very simple task in selecting, because all you have to do is place a checkmark adjacent to the item you wish to backup. So, if you have a backup strategy, this would be the preferred option.
Once you've made your selection of which backup procedure to use, click Next.
>>Deciding where to backup your files:
Windows XP will save all of your backup information to single file and by default, it will attempt to save it to your floppy drive. Obviously, this isn't going to be a location that any of you will be interested in, so you will need to select the "Browse" option to browse for your destination of choice. My backup destination of choice is to a USB thumb drive. It is always best to place your backup in a removable media of some sort.
After the backup destination has been selected, enter a name for the backup file and then click Next.
You should now be at the final page of the Backup Wizard. From here, you can perform these backups automatically in different intervals. To set this up, click the "Advanced" button. If you are not interested in scheduling your backups, just click "Finish" and your selected backup will begin.
Good job! You now a have a good working copy of the selected files in case something goes wrong with your Windows XP installation.
How to Uninstall Windows XP: If upgraded your computer to Windows XP from a previous version of Windows, Windows Setup Wizard may have backed up your current operating system. (The windows backup files are named Backup.cab and Boot.cab and have been stored in C:\Undo directory, that's assuming that Windows is installed on your C:\ drive.) If it is, you may uninstall Windows XP and return your old Windows OS (operating system). Be sure to backup all of your data files before you start to uninstall Windows XP. Or you will be sorry.
Note: If you have made any changed your partitions or drives since installing Windows XP, you usually can't uninstall it.
Follow these steps to uninstall Windows XP!
1. Go to >Choose Start >Control Panel >Add or Remove Programs.
2. Look for Windows XP Uninstall, if Windows XP Uninstall appears in the Currently Installed Programs, then you can uninstall it.
3. Now click on Windows XP Uninstall. Additional information should appears.
4. Now click on the Change/Remove button. You should see the Uninstall Windows XP dialog box.
5. Now choose Uninstall Windows XP and click on Continue.
You need to follow all of the directions on your screen. After the uninstall process is finished, your computer restarts and runs your previous Windows OS (operating system).
Note: Uninstalling Windows Xp doesn't delete your all your data files. However, most programs that you have installed after you installed Windows XP probably won't work. All you have to do to fix this, just reinstall them again. If you have created any documents or files, they should still be stored in C:\Documents and Settings\username\.
First, locate the Windows CD that shipped with your PC, along with the CDs for your application software. If you downloaded your antivirus, firewall, or other programs, copy those downloads to a CD or to some other type of removable media. (If your system didn't ship with a Windows CD, your reinstallation files are situated on your hard drive; I'll describe how to access them in just a minute.) Also, dig up the instructions that your ISP sent you for configuring your network settings, and keep them close at hand.
Copy the contents of your 'C:\Documents and Settings' folder (or whichever folder you store your personal files on) to a CD or other removable medium. Then grab any other critical data and back it up. It helps to collect the installers for the latest drivers for your PC's graphics card and other hardware, too.
Ready to Reinstall
Now insert the Windows CD that came with your PC, and reboot your system. If you didn't receive a Windows disc with your machine, the files you need are sitting in a hidden partition on your hard drive. To access them, press the keys indicated on your screen when you reboot, but before Windows loads. The keys differ from vendor to vendor, so contact your PC's manufacturer if you don't see the prompt.
In many instances, the only available option is 'Return the drive to its factory condition', which destroys all documents, photos, and other data files on your PC. That's why you made a copy of your data folders.
You get more options--including the ability to preserve your files and settings--when you use Microsoft's own Windows XP installation disc. Make your selection, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the reinstallation.
Starting Over
Regardless of which option you choose, you'll have to reconfigure your network connections, reinstall some of your device drivers, and update XP and your applications manually.
To configure your Internet connection, right-click My Network Places, click Create a new connection, and follow the prompts, entering the appropriate information you received from your ISP.
Once you've re-established your Internet link, you must reinstall and update your firewall, antivirus, and antispyware programs.
Next, check to see which of your device drivers need updates: Rght-click My Computer and select Properties, Hardware, Device Manager. Look for entries with yellow question marks or red exclamation points. A question mark indicates that Windows is using a generic driver for that device instead of one specifically designed for it; an exclamation point means that the device is not working.
The drivers for graphics boards, sound cards, and printers are most likely to need an update. If you haven't already done so, visit the vendors' Web sites to download updated drivers to your PC. Run the installer for each updated driver, allowing XP to reboot when needed, or right-click the entry in Device Manager, choose Update Driver, and step through the wizard, selecting No, not this time to the Windows Update question, and choosing the specified location option when it appears. When you can navigate to the driver file, select it and click OK to install it. When you finish updating your drivers, close all open windows.
Updates Galore
Your next stop is Microsoft's Windows Update site. Click Start, Windows Update, and follow the prompts. Since you'll probably be downloading many megabytes of updates, you might want to find yourself a good book or seek some other diversion while you wait.
When the downloading is complete, you'll be ready to reinstall and update your applications. Don't forget to update your critical apps as well. Microsoft Office, in particular has some important updates. Download them at the Microsoft Office Online Downloads page.
Once you've restored your applications, begin replacing your data. The first priorities are the My Documents and Application Data folders, which you'll find in the folder with your logon name inside 'C:\Documents and Settings'. To bring back your Internet Explorer favorites, restore the contents of the Favorites folder. Also restore the Shared Data and Application Data folders inside 'C:\Documents and Settings\Shared Documents'. Once you've reintroduced all of your data, your Windows refresh will be complete.
Installing Windows XP (Home or Professional Edition) can be very simple, even for those without much experience working with computers. This article assumes that you are installing Windows XP directly from a disc onto a clean, unpartitioned, unformatted hard drive, and that all computer components are installed and working correctly.
1. Ensure that your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements to run Windows XP:
* 300 Mhz Intel or AMD CPU
* 128 Megabytes of system RAM (It can work with 64 Megabytes of RAM but its not recommended)
* 1.5 Gigabytes of available drive space
* Super VGA 800x600 Display Adapter
* CD or DVD-ROM
* Keyboard and mouse, or other pointing devices
* Network Interface Adapter required for Internet and Network Connectivity
2. Ensure you have a Windows XP Product Key. It is printed on a sticker on your software package. It is a string of 5 groups of characters (each 5 long), separated by dashes, resulting in 25 characters in all.
It looks like this: HHHCF-WCF9P-M3YCC-RXDXH-FC3C6.
When the software has almost finished installing, you will be asked for it.You need the product key to complete installing Windows.
3. Before inserting the CD, you'll have to enter bios (in most cases by presing DEL on system startup) and select your primary boot device CDrom. Insert the Windows XP Installation Disc and start your computer. When prompted to "Press any key to boot from CD," press a key on the keyboard.
4. The installation program will check your hardware, install default-set drivers, and load files necessary for installation. When arriving at the "Welcome to Setup" screen, Press ENTER to begin the installation process.
5. Read the License Agreement, and press F8 indicating you agree to its terms.
6. On the next screen, you are presented with a summary of the available partitions on your installed hard drives. At this point, you should see only one entry, "Unpartitioned Space." It will be highlighted in grey. Press C on your keyboard to begin creating partitions for the drive.
7. Enter the size in megabytes for the new partition. If you intend to install only one drive, enter the maximum amount shown. If you wish to create multiple partitions on a single drive, remember that Windows XP requires at least 1.5 Gigabytes of space, plus swap space, and areas for temporary files. A good rule of thumb is not to install Windows XP on a partition less than 5 Gigabytes, unless you wish to impact performance. When calculating, remember that there are 1,024 Megabytes per Gigabyte. Press ENTER once you have chosen your desired partition size.
8. The system will create your new partition, and you will now be at the partition summary screen once again. Select your new partition, usually labeled "C: Partition 1 [Raw]" and press ENTER.
9. Select either "Format the Partition using the NTFS File System" OR "Format the Partition using the FAT File System," and press ENTER. NTFS is the preferred method, supporting a larger amount of disk space per partition than FAT, and including security features at the file system level. NTFS also includes system level compression. If your partition is larger than 32 Gigabytes, you must choose NTFS. However, with a partition less than 32 Gigabytes, you can choose FAT, and convert to NTFS later should you desire. Be aware that NTFS cannot be converted back to FAT.
It is highly recommended to avoid Quick Format, as this skips an important process that checks the hard drive for errors or bad sectors. This scan is what consumes the majority of the time taken when performing a full format. If there are errors on a disk at the physical level, it's best to catch them now rather than later.
10. The system will now format the partition. The length of time this process requires depends on the speed and size of the drive, and the type of file system you selected earlier. In most cases, the larger the partition, the longer the process will take.
11. Windows will now start copying files from the installation disc and prompt you to reboot the computer when the process is completed. Press ENTER when prompted to reboot, otherwise it will do so automatically after 15 seconds.
12. This is the most time consuming part. When the computer reboots, do not press enter to boot from the disc this time, rather allow the computer to boot from the hard drive. If you are greeted with the Windows XP Boot screen, all is well so far.
13. Now the setup program will display various marketing information to you as it installs and configures itself to your system. The estimated time remaining is displayed in the lower left corner.
Note: it is normal for the screen to flicker, turn on and off, or resize during this process.
14. Sooner or later, a dialog window will appear, asking you to choose your Regional settings. Select appropriate settings native to your area. Click the "Next" button when that is completed.
15. Enter your Product Key, (otherwise known as a CD or Install Key,) at this window. You will not be able to complete this process without a valid Key. Click "Next" to continue.
16. If your computer is going to be on a LAN (Local Area Network) at home, or even just for kicks, give it a name.
17. Select your time zone, and ensure that the date/time are correct. Click "Next" to continue.
18. Leave "Typical Settings" selected for Network Setup, unless you have a specialized access device or protocol required. Refer to the documentation for that device for installation procedures.
19. Setup will continue to install other devices and peripherals connected to your machine, give you marketing and capability information, then reboot as before.
20. Congratulations! You've installed Windows XP. There are a few more additional set-up routines required, but you have completed the installation. Remove the CD from the drive.
21. Upon Reboot, click Yes when you are informed Windows will be changing your visual settings to improve quality.
22. In the next box, if you can read the text, press the "OK" button.
23. A similar screen to Part 2 of the install process will appear. If your computer is connected to the internet, select your connection type. Press Next to continue.
24. If connected to the Internet, Select "Activate Now."
25. After the Activation Process, a window will appear allowing you to select the users for the computer. Enter your name, and the names of others who will be using the machine. Press Next to continue.
26. You will now be looking at the default Windows XP Desktop. Congratulations!
How do you perform a reinstallation of Windows XP, sometimes called a repair installation?
Configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive. For more information about how to do this, refer to your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer. Then insert your Windows XP Setup CD, and restart your computer.
1. When the Press any key to boot from CD message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
2. Press ENTER when you see the message To setup Windows XP now, and then press ENTER displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen.
3. Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.
4. In the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
5. Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup.
