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PC Help Tips - Windows 9x - XP - Vista


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Windows XP

Identify computer's processor type, speed, memory, version of Windows
Right Click My Computer > Click Properties > View General tab
or
Click Start > Control Panel > System > View General tab

Windows Task Manager
Ctrl + Alt + Del will open the Windows Task Manager
Processes tab shows information about the processes running on your computer
The Performance tab displays CPU and memory usage

Scan Disk for bad sectors
Click:
Start > My Computer > Right Click "Local Disk (C:)" > Properties > Tools > Check Now
You will have to restart the computer to run the scan.

Virtual Memory
Click Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Change

StartUp
To see programs or files loaded at Startup:
System Configuration Utility:
Click Start > Run > Type "msconfig" > OK > Startup

Hardware - Check and update Drivers
On Desktop Screen
Right Click My Computer > Properties > Hardwre > Device Manager > Double-click a device > Check to see "This device is working properly."
Click Driver tab > Update Driver



Restart
Ctrl + Alt + Del
repeat to restart

On Windows XP, Ctrl + Alt + Del will open the Windows Task Manager

Scan Disk
Click:
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scan Disk

On Windows XP
Run the scan when you first start up your computer or you will have to restart the computer to run the scan.
Start > My Computer>

On the mouse, right-click the local disk you want to check, for example Local Disk (C:). Click Properties.

      or

Select the local disk you want to check, for example Local Disk (C:)
On the File menu
Click Properties.

Click the Tools tab, under Error-checking, click Check Now.
Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.

Disk Defragmenter
Click:
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter


Defrag Error Message: ID No:DEFRAG00205
Symptoms
When you run the Disk Defragmenter tool in Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:
Error Defragmenting Drive C
Windows cannot finish defragmenting this drive because it has encountered a problem. Click Help and carry out the instructions for running Scan Disk, and then try defragmenting again.
ID No:DEFRAG00205
Cause
A file in the hidden C:\Windows\Applog folder is damaged.
Resolution 1. Right-click an empty area on the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Web tab, click Folder Options.
3. Click Yes.
4. On the View tab under Hidden files, click Show all files, and then click OK.
5. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
6. In the Named box, type applog, click C: in the Look in box, click to select the Include subfolders check box, and then click Find Now.
7. Double-click the Applog folder to open it.
8. On the Edit menu, click Select all.
9. On the File menu, click Delete, and then click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
10. Empty the Recycle Bin.

Close Program dialog box
What is loaded at Startup?
Ctrl + Alt + Del (only once)
You can close an items on the list by clicking it and then click the End Task button.
Do not close Explorer or Systray

Signature Outlook Express
Tool > Options > Signatures
Use http:// in your url so that the web address comes through as a link.

Bookmarks - Favorites Internet Exporer
Rename - Click Favorite menu or button
Place mouse pointer over name you want to change
Click right mouse button
Click Rename
Type new name then press enter
Change url - Click Favorite menu or button
Place mouse pointer over name you want to change
Click right mouse button
Click Properties
Type new url then press enter
Organize Favorites
Ctrl + B

Fatal Exception 0E Errors list
Write down all of the Fatal Exception Error message, then goto:

Fatal Exception 0E Errors


Fatal exception 0E at 0028:C001545A and blue screen -
This might be caused by a conflict with On-Line Clinic version of McAfee anti-virus
Fix
1. Start System Configuration Utility
2. Click Startup
3. Remove check mark from:
MCUupdateExe
mgavrtclexe
MCAgentExe

System File Checker
Replace altered, corrupt, damaged or missing system files
You will need your Windows installation CD
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information
When the Microsoft System Information dialog box opens,
Click Tools
Click System File Checker
Select Scan for altered files

To clear the contents of the Documents menu
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar & Start Menu. Click the Start Menu Programs tab. In Documents menu, click Clear.

Start > Programs list jump to a Program folder or item
Start > Programs
Type the first letter of the Program folder or item

Start > Programs list rearrange list
Start > Programs
Select the Program folder or item you want to move
Drag it to where you want it to be.

Start > Programs list rename a Program folder or item
Start > Programs
Right-click the Program folder or item you want to rename
Click rename
Type or edit the name in the Rename dialog box
Click OK button

To remove a program shortcut from the Start or Programs menu
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar & Start Menu.
Click the Start Menu Programs tab.
Click Remove, and then locate the program you want to remove.
Click the program, and then click Remove.
Although this deletes the shortcut from the Start menu, the original program remains on your computer.
Click Advanced if you want to delete a program's shortcut by using Windows Explorer.
To remove a program (shortcut) from the Start or Programs menu using Windows Explorer
C: > Windows > Start Menu > Programs highlight file and press the delete key.


Display all file name extensions
Double click on My Computer
Click View menu
Click Folder Options
Click the View tab, and then click Show all files.
Click to clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box.
Click OK button

Turn Screen Saver off
Right-click on the desktop area
Select Properties from the menu
Click on Screen Saver tab
Select None from the pull-down menu
Click Settings
Select Never from pull down menus for monitor and hard disks
Click OK

Keyboard Shortcuts
You can press the key for the underlined letter in a dialogue box to select that option instead of using the mouse. If pressing the letter doesn't work, you can press the Alt key plus the underlined letter.
This is especially helpful when your mouse won't work.

System Configuration Utility
Click Start
Click Run
Type "msconfig"
Click OK


Another way
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information
Click Tools
Click System Configuration Utility
Click Startup
Before you make any changes, make a record of the items that are checked

System Configuration Editor
Click Start
Click Run
Type "sysedit"
Click OK

View files in notepad:
autoexec.bat
config.sys
win.ini
system.ini
protocol.ini
msmail.ini

System Properties Right click on My Computer icon on the desktop
Click properties

IP Configuration (WINIPCFG) Utility
Connect to Internet
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type: winipcfg
Click More Info.
To see the addresses of the DNS servers the computer is configured to use, click the ellipsis (...) button to the right of DNS Servers. To see address information for your network adapter(s), select an adapter from the list in Ethernet Adapter Information.

Ping
Get IP Address from IP Configuration Utility
Click MS-DOS Prompt
Type ping and the IP Address
Press Enter


Bootlog.txt
To force Windows to create a new Bootlog.txt:
1. Hold down the F8 key, when Windows starts.
2 When the START UP MENU appears, select option (2) Logged (Bootlog.txt). Press enter.
Your system will boot normally and will create a new Bootlog.txt file in your C:\ directory.
3. Your previous Bootlog.txt will be renamed Bootlog.prv.
4. You can use Word Pad to view the contents of Bootlog.txt


Command Prompt (DOS) for Windows XP

Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt

or

Start > Run
Type "cmd.exe"
or
Type "cmd"
Click OK

To close Command Prompt window: Type "exit"
Press Enter

Save List of File Names in a Directory to a File

Goto DOS - see above.
Start > Run >Type cmd (gives you a 'DOS' window)
Navigate to the folder you want (c:\folder)
Type cd.. until you are in the C: base directory
Type DIR > newfile.txt
This will create a file named "newfile.txt" and the list of file names in that directory are saved in that file.

Type at the C:\> prompt
This will create a file named "e2list.txt" and the list of file names on the CD in the "Files" directory are saved in that file.

If you type: DIR E:\File4 > e2list.txt
This will erase the information on the file "e2list.txt" and now will list the file names on the CD in the "File4" directory
To add a list of the file names on the E:\File4 directory to the file e2list.txt
Type at the C:\> prompt:
To print a directory type:


Manually Remove Temporary Files
Start > Run
Type "%temp%"
Click OK
When the Temp folder opens:
Edit > Select All > Delete Key
Click Yes

ftp + dsl + xp

Problem: If you move up from dial-up to dsl, you may not be able to ftp (upload) files to your Web site.
The cause of the problem is Windows Firewall.
1. Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall > Off
Turn the Windows Firewall off, then ftp your files, then turn Windows Firewall on.
While your Windows Firewall is turned off, your computer is vulnerable to attack.

2. If you use Verizon DSL and select MSN, MSN gives you a free
McAffee Personal Firewall.

McAffee Personal Firewall allows you to ftp with out exposing your computer to attack.

3. If you don't have MSN:
Buy McAffee Personal Firewall and use it.

Disabling Messenger Service in Windows XP

To turn off Messenger Service

Click Start > Run > Type "services.msc" > OK
double-click on Messenger in the list of Services
change Startup type to "Disabled"
click "Stop" button
click "OK" button



Vista


Task Manager
You can open Task Manager by right-clicking an empty area on the taskbar and then clicking Task Manager, or by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC.

Optimize Windows Vista for better performance

Vista Report



Common Shortcuts*
Ctrl + S Save
Ctrl + O Open document
Ctrl + N Open New document (new window)
Ctrl + A Select all contents of the page.
Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + I Italic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + F Find
Ctrl + H Search and Replace
Ctrl + C Copy selected item.
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + X Cut selected item.
Ctrl + P Print.
Ctrl + Y Repeat the last action performed.
Ctrl + Z Undo last action.
* Mac users: Substitute Command key for Ctrl


Common File Formats

ACE - ACE Archiver compression file.
AIF - Audio Interchange File used with SGI and Macintosh applications.
ANI - Animated cursors used in Microsoft Windows.
API - Application Program Interface.
ART - Clipart.
ASC - ASCII text file.
ASM - Assembler code.
ASP - Microsoft Active Server Page.
AVI - Audio/Video Interleaved used for Windows based movies.
BAK - Backup Files.
BAS - BASIC programming language sourcecode.
BAT - MS-DOS batch file.
BFC - Briefcase document used in Windows.
BIN - Binary File.
BIN - MacBinary-encoded files.
BMP - Bitmap format.
BUD - Backup Disk for Quicken by Intuit.
BZ2 - Bzip2-compressed files.
C - C source file.
CAT - Security Catalog file.
CBL - Cobol code.
CBT - Computer Based Training.
CDA - Compact Disc Audio Track.
CDT - Corel Draw Template file.
CFML - ColdFusion Markup Language.
CGI - Common Gateway Interface. Web based programs and scripts.
CHM - Compiled HTML Help files used by Windows.
CLASS - Javascript Class file.
CLP - Windows Clipboard file.
CMD - Dos Command File.
COM - Command File.
CPL - Control panel item - The settings in Control Panels represent
CPL files in the Windows\System folder.
CPP - C++ programming language source code.
CSS - Cascading Style Sheet. Creates a common style reference for a set of web pages.
CSV - Comma Separated Values format.
CMF - Corel Metafile.
CUR - Cursor in Microsoft Windows.
DAO - Registry Backup file for Windows registry.
DAT - Data file.
DD - Compressed Archive by Macintosh DiskDoubler.
DEB - Debian packages.
DEV - Device Driver.
DIC - Dictionary file.
DIR - Macromedia Director file.
DLL - Dynamic Linked Library. Microsoft application file.
DOC - Document format for Word Perfect and Microsoft Word.
DOT - Microsoft Word Template.
DRV - Device Driver.
DS - TWAIN Data source file.
DUN - Dial-up networking configuration file.
DWG - Autocad drawing.
DXF - Autocad drawing exchange format file.
EMF - Enhanced Windows Metafile.
EML - Microsoft Outlook e-mail file.
EPS - Encapsulated PostScript supported by most graphics programs.
EPS2 - Adobe PostScript Level II Encapsulated Postscript.
EXE - DOS based executable file which is also known as a program.
FFL - Microsoft Fast Find file.
FFO - Microsoft Fast Find file.
FLA - Macromedia Flash movie format.
FNT - Font file.
GIF - Graphics Interchange Format that supports animation. Created by CompuServe and used primarily for web use.
GID - Windows global index. Contains the index information used by "Help" in Windows.
GRP - Microsoft Program Manager Group.
GZ - Unix compressed file.
HEX - Macintosh binary hex(binhex) file.
HLP - Standard help file.
HT - HyperTerminal files.
HQX - Macintosh binary hex(binhex) file.
HTM - Hyper Text Markup. This markup language is used for web design.
HTML - Hyper Text Markup Language. This markup language is used for web design.
ICL - Icon Library File.
ICM - Image Color Matching profile.
ICO - Microsoft icon image.
INF - Information file used in Windows.
INI - Initialization file used in Windows.
JAR - Java Archive. A compressed java file format.
JPEG - Compression scheme supported by most graphics programs and used predominantly for web use.
JPG - More common extension for JPEG described above.
JS - JavaScript File - A text file containing JavaScript programming code.
LAB - Microsoft Excel mailing labels.
LGO - Windows 9x startup logo.
LIT - eBooks in Microsoft Reader format.
LNK - Windows 9x shortcut file.
LOG - Application log file.
LSP - Autocad(visual) lisp program.
MAQ - Microsoft Access Query.
MAR - Microsoft Access Report.
MDB - Microsoft Access DataBase File.
MDL - Rose model file. Opens with Visual Modeler or Rational Rose.
MID - MIDI music file.
MOD - Microsoft Windows 9.x kernel module.
MOV - Quicktime movie.
MP3 - MPEG Audio Layer 3.
MPEG - Animation file format.
MPP - Microsoft Project File.
MSG - Microsoft Outlook message file.
MSG - Fidonet messages.
NCF - Netware command File.
NLM - Netware loadable Module.
O - Object file, used by linkers.
OCX - ActiveX Control: A component of the Windows environment.
OGG - Ogg Vorbis digitally encoded music file.
OST - Microsoft Exchange/Outlook offline file.
PAK - WAD file that contains information about levels, settings, maps, etc for Quake and Doom.
PCL - Printer Control Language file. PCL is a Page Description Language developed by HP.
PCT - Macintosh drawing format.
PDF - Portable Document File by Adobe. Viewable in a web browser or
with Adobe Acrobat.
PDF - Printer Description File. Provides printer support for certain
applications.
PDR - Port driver for windows 95. It is actually a virtual device driver (vxd).
PHP - Web page that contains a PHP script.
PHTML - Web page that contains a PHP script.
PIF - Program Information File
PIF - Vector graphics GDF file(IBM Mainframe)
PIF - Macintosh Compressed archive
PL - Perl source code file.
PM - Perl Module.
PM3 - PageMaker 3.0 document.
PM4 - PageMaker 4.0 document.
PM5 - PageMaker 5.0 document.
PM6 - PageMaker 6.0 document.
PNG - Portable Network Graphic file.
POL - System Policy file for Windows NT.
POT - Microsoft PowerPoint design template.
PPD - PostScript Printer description file used in Macintosh and Windows operating systems to provide printer specific features to a driver.
PPS - Microsoft PowerPoint slide show.
PPT - Microsoft PowerPoint presentation(default extension).
PRN - A print file created as the result of "printing to file".
PS - PostScript file.
PSD - Native Adobe Photoshop format.
PSP - Paint Shop Pro image.
PST - Personal Folder File for Microsoft Outlook.
PUB - Microsoft Publisher document.
PWL - Windows Password list file.
QIF - Quicken Import file.
RAM - RealAudio Metafile.
RAR - RAR compressed archive created by Eugene Roshall.
RAW - Raw File Format.
RDO - Raster Document Object. Proprietary file type used on Xerox
Digipath Scan and Makeready workstations.
REG - Registry file that contains registry settings.
RM - RealAudio video file.
RPM - RedHat Package Manager.
RSC - Standard resource file.
RTF - Rich Text Format.
SCR - Screen Saver file.
SEA - Self-extracting archive for Macintosh Stuffit files.
SGML - Standard Generalized Markup Language.
SH - Unix shell script.
SHTML - HTML file that supports Server Side Includes(SSI).
SIT - Compressed Macintosh Stuffit files.
SMD - SEGA mega drive ROM file.
SVG - Adobe scalable vector graphics file.
SWF - Shockwave Flash file by Macromedia.
SWP - DOS swap file.
SYS - Windows system file used for hardware configuration or drivers.
TAR - Unix Tape Archive.
TGA - Targa bitmap.
TIFF - Tagged Image File Format. Universal graphics format supported
by most graphics applications.
TMP - Windows temporary file.
TTF - True Type font.
TXT - Text Format.
UDF - Uniqueness Definition File. Used for Windows unattended installations.
UUE - UU-encoded file.
VBX - Microsoft Visual basic extension.
VM - Virtual Memory file.
VXD - Windows 9x virtual device driver.
WAV - Waveform sound file.
WMF - Windows Metafile (graphics format).
WRI - Write Document: This is equivalent to RTF, Rich Text Format,
that enables saving text with formatting information.
WSZ - Winamp Skin.
XCF - The GIMP's native image format.
XIF - Wang imaging file. Wang Image Viewer comes with Windows 95/2000.
XIF - Xerox Image file (same as TIFF).
XIF - Image file eXtended by ScanSoft is similar to TIFF and is a Pagis application format.
XLS - Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.
XLT - Microsoft Excel Template.
XML - Extensible markup language.
XSL - XML style sheet.
ZIP - Compressed Zip archive.

File Extension Source

Every File Extension in the World

Windows Task Manager

On Windows XP, Ctrl + Alt + Del will open the Windows Task Manager

ProcessLibrary.com

Windows Startup Item Database


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Last Updated: Monday, December 8, 2008

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