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Disable Error Reporting
You can get rid of the Windows XP error report messages if you don't want to send another one in.
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type msconfig to open the System Configuration Utility.
Click the Services tab.
Clear the Error Reporting Service check box, and then click OK.
Hit Restart to reboot your system.
Your computer will now start without loading the error reporting service.
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Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer in Windows XP
This article describes how to use Backup Utility for Windows (included with Windows XP) to back up files and folders on your computer.
The Backup tool in Windows XP helps you protect your data in case your hard disk fails or files are accidentally erased. By using Backup, you can create a duplicate copy of all of the data on your hard disk and then archive it on another storage device, such as a hard disk or a tape.
If the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard-disk malfunction, you can easily restore the data from the disk or archived copy by using the Restore Wizard or Automated System Recovery Wizard.
Note: You must have permissions as an administrator or a backup operator on your computer to back up files and folders. Also, backup operators and administrators can back up and restore encrypted files and folders without decrypting the files or folders.
Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup. The Backup or Restore Wizard starts.
Click Advanced Mode.
Click the Backup tab.
On the Job menu, click New.
Select the check boxes for the drives that you want to back up. If you want to be more specific in your selections, expand the drive that you want, and then click the check boxes for the files or folders that you want.
Select the System State check box.
Note: If you want to back up your system settings as well as your data files, you should back up all the data on your computer plus the System State data, which includes such things as the registry, the COM+ class registration database, files under Windows File Protection, and boot files.
In the Backup destination list, click the backup destination that you want to use.
If you clicked File in the previous step, type the full path and file name that you want in the Backup media or file name box. Note that you can also specify a network share as a destination for the backup file.
Click Start Backup. The Backup Job Information dialog box appears.
Under If the media already contains backups, use one of the following steps:
If you want to append this backup to previous backups, click Append this backup to the media.
If you want to overwrite previous backups with this backup, click Replace the data on the media with this backup.
Click Advanced.
Select the Verify data after backup check box.
In the Backup Type box, click the type of backup that you want. When you click a backup type, a description of that backup type is displayed under "Description."
Click OK, and then click Start Backup. A Backup Progress dialog box appears, and the backup starts.
When the backup is complete, click Close.
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Use Backup to Restore Files and Folders on Your Computer in Windows XP
This article is a step-by-step guide to using the Backup program in Windows XP to restore files and folders on your computer.
The Backup utility in Windows XP helps you protect your data in case your hard disk fails or files are accidentally erased. By using Backup, you can create a duplicate copy of all of the data on your hard disk and then archive it on another storage device, such as a hard disk or a tape.
If the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard-disk malfunction, you can easily restore it from the disk or archived copy by using the Restore Wizard or Automated System Recovery Wizard.
Note: You must have permissions as an administrator or a backup operator on your computer to restore files and folders. Also, backup operators and administrators can back up and restore encrypted files and folders without decrypting the files or folders.
Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup. The Backup or Restore Wizard starts.
Click Advanced Mode.
Click the Restore and Manage Media tab.
If you want to restore from a backup file:
Expand File, and then expand the backup file that you want. For example, expand Backup.bkf created 01/01/2002 at 1:15 PM. Backup includes the date and time of the backup as part of the file name by default.
If you want to restore from a tape backup:
Expand the tape device that you want (for example, Travan), and then expand the media name that you want. For example, expand Media created 01/01/2002 1:15 PM.
Select the check boxes for the folders that you want to restore. If you want to be more specific in your selections, double-click the folder that you want, and then select the check boxes for the files or folders that you want to restore.
If you are restoring the entire operating system, select the System State check box.
Note: If you want to restore the operating system as well as your data files, you should restore the System State data, which includes such things as the registry, the COM+ class registration database, files under Windows File Protection, and boot files.
In the Restore files to box, use one of the following steps:
Click Original location if you want to restore the files to the location from which you backed them up. Use this selection when you restore the entire computer.
Click Alternate location if you want to restore a file or files to another location on the hard disk. Type the location that you want in the Alternate location box. Use this selection to prevent the restore operation from overwriting existing files on your computer.
Click Single folder if you want to restore a file or files to a single folder on the hard disk. Type the location that you want in the Alternate location box. Use this selection to separate the restored files or folders from the rest of the files on the hard disk.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the method that you want Backup to use when it restores a file that is already on the computer, and then click OK. Backup uses this selection to determine whether to overwrite an existing file only when it restores a file in a folder that contains the existing file.
Note: If you are restoring the operating system, click Always replace the file on my computer.
Click Start Restore.
If the following message appears, click OK if you want to restore the System State information with the selected backup:
Warning!
Restoring System State will always overwrite current System State unless restoring to an alternate location.
In the Confirm Restore prompt that appears, click OK. A Restore Progress dialog box appears, and the restore operation starts.
When the restore process is complete, click Close.
If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.
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Schedule Tasks in Windows XP
With Scheduled Tasks, you can schedule any script, program, or document to run at a time that is most convenient for you. Scheduled Tasks starts every time that you start Windows XP and runs in the background, and it starts each task that you schedule at the time that you specify when you create the task.
To open Scheduled Tasks:
Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks.
To schedule a new task:
Double-click Add Scheduled Task to start the Scheduled Task Wizard, and then click Next in the first dialog box.
The next dialog box displays a list of programs that are installed on your computer, either as part of the Windows XP operating system, or as a result of software installation.
Use one of the following procedures:
If the program that you want to run is listed, click the program, and then click Next.
If you want to run a program, script, or document that is not listed, click Browse, click the folder and file that you want to schedule, and then click Open.
Type a name for the task, and then choose one of the following options:
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
One time only
When my computer starts (before a user logs on)
When I log on (only after the current user logs on)
Click Next, specify the information about the day and time to run the task, and then click Next.
Note that the information about the day and time to run the task vary depending on the selection that you made in the previous wizard dialog box. For example, if you chose Weekly, you must indicate the day of the week, the time, and if the task should run every week, every 2 weeks, every 3 weeks, and so on.
Type the name and password of the user who is associated with this task. Make sure that you choose a user with sufficient permissions to run the program. By default, the wizard selects the name of the user who is currently logged on.
Click Next, and then click Finish after you verify the choices that you have made.
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Using Advanced Options in Scheduled Tasks
If you want to change the configuration of the task:
Click Open in the Advanced properties for the task before you click Finish. After you click Finish, the Properties dialog box opens for the task.
On the Schedule tab, you can change any of the scheduling options that you chose in the wizard, and you can also change the task configuration so that the task does not run too long, does not run if the computer is running on batteries (for laptops), and to specify whether or not the computer should be idle for the task to run.
Note: You can open the Properties dialog box for the task at any time if you open Scheduled Tasks, right-click the task, and then click Properties.
You cannot schedule a task so that it repeats in an interval less than one day; however, you can do this in the Properties dialog box:
Click the Schedule tab, and then click Advanced.
Click to select the Repeat task check box, and then specify the number of minutes or hours in which you want the task to be repeated.
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Obtain Remote Assistance by Sending an E-mail Message in Windows XP
This article describes how to obtain help by using the Remote Assistance feature in Microsoft Windows XP.
Remote Assistance allows a remote connection to your computer that can be used to view your computer screen, participate in real-time chat and, with your permission, remotely control your computer.
Note: The following requirements must be met before you can use Remote Assistance:
Both the local and the remote computer must be using either Windows Messenger or a Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI)-compliant e-mail program such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express.
Both computers must be connected to the Internet while using Remote Assistance.
Note: If your computer is behind a firewall, you may need to reconfigure the firewall to allow Remote Assistance. Contact your network administrator before using Remote Assistance.
Click Start > Help and Support. The Help and Support Center dialog box appears.
Under Ask for assistance, click Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance. The Remote Assistance pane appears.
Under Remote Assistance, click Invite someone to help you.
Under or use e-mail, type your assistant's e-mail address in the Type an e-mail address box, and then click Invite this person.
Note: Click Address Book if you want to select a contact from the address book.
The Remote Assistance - E-mail an Invitation page appears.
In the From box, type the name or identification that you want.
In the Message box, type the message that you want, and then click Continue.
Under Set the invitation to expire, select the duration that you want to allow the invitation for assistance.
Click to clear the Require the recipient to use a password check box if you do not want to password-protect the remote connection.
Note: Using a password is recommended.
If you protect this connection with a password, type the password that you want your assistant to use in the Type password box. Retype that password in the Confirm password box, and then click Send Invitation. The invitation is sent using your e-mail program. You receive the following message:
Your invitation has been sent successfully. Note: You must communicate this password to the remote assistant in order for the Remote Assistance session to be created.
When your remote assistant accepts your invitation, you receive the following message
Assistant has accepted your Remote Assistance invitation and is ready to
connect to your computer.
Do you want to let this person view your screen and chat with you? where Assistant is the name of the remote assistant.
Click Yes.
The Remote Assistance dialog box appears. The remote assistant can view your computer screen and chat with you in real time.
If the remote assistant wants to remotely control the computer, you receive the following message:
Assistant would like to share control of your computer to help solve the problem.
Do you wish to let Assistant share control of your computer? (where Assistant is the name of the remote assistant).
To accept, click Yes.
The remote assistant can now control your computer remotely. This includes the ability to shut down the computer.
Note: Do not use the mouse while the remote assistant controls the computer.
Remote Assistance Features
Use the following features of the Remote Assistance dialog box to participate in the remote assistance session:
The Connection Status box displays the following information:
The name of the assistant.
Whether you are connected or disconnected.
The assistant's privileges during this session. For example, Screen View Only.
The Stop Control (ESC) button.
Press the ESCAPE key to stop the computer from being remotely controlled. When you press ESCAPE, you receive the following message:
User name or Assistant has stopped remote control by pressing the ESC key, or a key sequence or combination including the ESC key where User name is the name of the logged on user, and where Assistant is the name of the remote assistant.
The Send a File button.
Use this button to initiate file transfers between the local and remote computer.
The Start Talking button.
Use this button to initiate voice chat with the remote assistant.
The Settings button.
Use this button to adjust quality settings according to the connection speed that you have.
The Disconnect button.
Use this button to terminate the Remote Assistance session.
The Help button.
Provides Remote Assistance help.
The Message Entry box.
Use this box to type messages to the remote assistant in real time. Click the Send button, or press ENTER to send the message.
The Chat History window.
This window records the text messages typed by you and the remote assistant.
Troubleshooting
The ability to control your computer remotely is disabled by default.
When the remote assistant attempts to remotely control the computer, the following message appears:
Remote Control of this computer is not allowed. To configure the computer for remote control, follow these steps.
Note: You must be a member of the local Administrators group to perform these steps.
Click Start > Control Panel.
Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click System.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
On the Remote tab, click to select the Advanced button under Remote Assistance.
Under Remote control, click the Allow this computer to be controlled remotely check box, and then click OK.
In the System Properties dialog box, click OK.
Remote Control is now enabled. Note that you must still expressly permit the remote control of your computer in each Remote Assistance session.
The computer appears to stop responding
When you use Remote Assistance over a dial-up connection, the computer may appear to stop responding (hang) or may respond slowly. This behavior may be caused by the slow speed of the Internet connection. For best results, use Remote Assistance over a high-speed Internet connection.
Remote Assistance allows access to sensitive data
The remote assistant can see as well as, with your permission, gain access to the information on your computer. For this reason, invite only trusted sources to remotely assist you.
More Information
Use Remote Assistance to view and edit your Remote Assistance invitations. To do this, follow these steps:
Click Start > Help and Support.
The Help and Support Center dialog box appears.
Under Ask for assistance, click Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance.
The Remote Assistance pane appears.
Under Remote Assistance, click View invitation status. A table similar to the following appears:
Sent To
Expiration Time
Status
User_name@microsoft.com
Tuesday, August 28,
2001 10:37:47 AM
Open
User_name@hotmail.com
Monday, August 27,
2001 8:35:05 PM
Expired
Assistant@mycompany.com
Monday, August 27,
2001 1:51:02 PM
Expired
Select the invitation that you want, and use the following buttons to change or view the status of that invitation:
Details
Use this button to view the Invitation Details page for this invitation. When you are finished, click Close.
Expire
Use this button to rescind the invitation. The remote assistant can no longer use this invitation to connect to your computer.
Resend
Use this button to resend an e-mail-based invitation to the selected contact.
Delete
Use this button to remove the invitation from the View or change your invitation page.
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Obtain Remote Assistance Using Windows Messenger in Windows XP
This step-by-step article describes how to use Windows Messenger to obtain help using the Remote Assistance feature in Windows XP. Remote Assistance enables you to allow another user to make a remote connection to your computer, which they can use to view your computer screen, participate in real-time chat and, with your permission, remotely control your computer.
Requirements
Both the local and the remote computer must be using either Windows Messenger or a Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI)-compliant e-mail program such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express. Both computers must be connected to the Internet while using Remote Assistance.
Note: If your computer is behind a firewall, you may need to reconfigure the firewall to allow Remote Assistance. Contact your network administrator before using Remote Assistance.
To obtain help using Remote Assistance:
Connect to the Internet, and then sign in to Windows Messenger.
Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
Under Ask for assistance, click Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance.
Under Remote Assistance, click Invite someone to help you.
Under Use Windows Messenger, click the contact that you want to invite, and then click Invite this person.
Note: The contact that you want to invite must be online.
You receive the following message, where Assistant is the name of the assistant that you invited:
Inviting Assistant to connect to your computer. Please wait for a response...
Invitation is accepted...
After the remote assistant accepts your invitation, click Yes when you receive the following message:
Assistant has accepted your Remote Assistance invitation and is ready to
connect to your computer.
Do you want to let this person view your screen and chat with you?
If the remote assistant wants to remotely control the computer, click Yes to accept the request when you receive the following message, where Assistant is the name of the remote assistant:
Assistant would like to share control of your computer to help solve the problem.
Do you wish to let Assistant share control of your computer? The remote assistant can now control your computer remotely. This includes the ability to shut down the computer.
Note: Do not use the mouse while the remote assistant controls the computer.
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Cannot Use MSN EXPLORER or AOL To Send a Remote Assistance Invitation via Email Option
When you use Remote Assistance to invite someone to help you and try to choose the option to use e-mail, you might see the following message when you get to the available options page:
Outlook Express is not set up.
Remote Assistance is either incompatible with the default e-mail program on this computer, or could not detect a default e-mail account.
You will also see an option to set up Outlook Express.
Cause
You have MSN Explorer or America Online (AOL) installed and configured as you default e-mail client. Remote Assistance on Windows XP will not allow to send the activation mail message through the MSN Explorer or AOL messaging system, as they use their own e-mail clients and they are not MAPI-compliant. Remote Assistance Invitation e-mail escalation will only work with MAPI-compliant e-mail programs and e-mail accounts.
Resolution
As a workaround, you could use one of the following options based on how you access your e-mail.
MSN Explorer
Use Windows Messenger to invite someone to Start Remote Assistance. In order to do that, follow the instructions on the Help and Support Center, Remote Assistance page, under the Use Windows Messenger field.
-or-
Choose the option to Save invitation as a file, then use MSN Explorer to compose the e-mail to the person you are requesting assistance from, and attach the file to it.
America Online
Choose the option to Save invitation as a file, then use AOL to compose the email to the person you are requesting assistance from, and attach the file to it.
MAPI-compliant E-mail application
If you have a MAPI-compliant e-mail application installed on your computer, and your Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses POP3, IMAP, HTTP or SMTP mail servers, then configure the software based on the manufacturer's and/or your ISP's instructions.
Note: You can also click on the button Set Up Outlook Express on the Remote Assistance available options page and configure it to send and receive email with your mail servers settings, if available.
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Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in Windows XP
This article describes how to use the System Restore tool to return your computer to a previous working state. System Restore takes a "snapshot" of critical system files and some program files and stores this information as restore points. You can use these restore points to return Windows XP to a previous state.
If Windows XP Does Not Start
If Windows does not start, restart Windows by using the Last Known Good Configuration feature:
Start the computer and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to start. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked), and then press ENTER.
If a boot menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows XP, and then press ENTER. Windows XP restores the computer to the most recent restore point.
If Windows XP Does Start
Log on to Windows as Administrator.
Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. System Restore starts.
On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system checkpoint in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make.
Click OK.
On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Restoration Complete page appears.
Click OK.
Troubleshooting
You may inadvertently restore Windows XP to a previous configuration that you do not want.
To undo the restoration:
Log on to Windows as Administrator.
Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. System Restore starts.
On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Undo my last restoration, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make.
Click OK.
On the Confirm Restoration Undo page, click Next. System Restore restores the original Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Undo Complete page appears.
Click OK.
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Long Pause During Windows Startup Process
Symptoms
After you choose to start Windows from the Boot menu, you may experience a long delay (or pause) before your computer finishes starting. Note that this delay may range from 10 seconds to a minute. Also, this delay occurs before the Starting Windows progress bar appears, and your computer may appear to stop responding (hang) during this time.
Cause
This behavior can occur if Windows is installed on a drive or a partition to which Windows cannot gain access with normal Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) INT-13 or INT-13 extension calls. When Windows Setup determines it cannot use BIOS calls to start, it uses scsi() or signature() syntax in the Boot.ini file instead of multi() syntax.
When booting a system that requires scsi() or signature() syntax, Ntldr loads an additional device driver (Ntbootdd.sys) to initialize and interrogate the boot controllers in your computer. Ntldr then seeks the associated boot drive attached to the controller to finish loading the kernel. These additional operations take more time in Windows because of the Plug and Play nature of the operating system.
This behavior is expected, however, Windows Setup may use scsi() or signature() syntax, even if your computer can boot using the normal BIOS calls. This may occur on Integrated Drive Electronics-based computers when using a large capacity boot drive. In this case, you can try adding an additional entry in the Boot.ini file and use multi() syntax on the new entry to boot from. Note that if this works, your computer starts without pausing.
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How to Rename Multiple Files with Windows Explorer
Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer.
Press and hold down the Ctrl-key while you are clicking files.
After you select the files, press F2.
Type the new name, and then press ENTER.
Note: When you complete the preceding steps, the highlighted state of all files except one disappears, so it may appear as if you are only renaming one file. However, after you press ENTER, all of the files are renamed. When you rename multiple files, all of the renamed files have the same name with a number in parentheses appended to the name to make the new file name unique. For example, if you type BUDGET as the new name, the first file is named BUDGET. All of the remaining selected files are named BUDGET(x), where x is a unique number, starting with (1).
Notes
If you make a mistake when you try to rename multiple files, you can press Ctrl+Z, or click Undo Rename on the Edit menu to undo file rename action you just completed, and you can repeat this process as needed.
The Rename function in Windows Explorer does not match the behavior of the REN command you may use at a command prompt. For example, if you had files that are named smitha.doc, smithb.doc, and smithc.doc, you could use the ren smoth*.doc smythe*.doc command. All file names automatically show the new spelling, and are renamed smythea.doc, smytheb.doc, and smythec.doc.
If you use the Windows XP Rename function in Windows Explorer, after you select the three "smith" files, and rename smitha.doc to smythea.doc, all the other files you selected are named smythea(x).doc. To return to the original file name structure (the use of a, b, c, etc), you must rename each file individually.
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Restore Icons That Have Been Removed from the Desktop in Windows XP
This article describes how to restore the My Computer, My Documents, and My Network Places icons after they have been removed from the desktop.
In Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and Professional, the new Start menu is enabled by default. When the new Start menu is enabled, the My Computer, My Documents, and My Network Places icons are removed from the desktop.
Right-click the Desktop and click Properties.
Click the Desktop tab.
Click Customize Desktop.
Click the General tab, and then click the icons that you want to place on the desktop.
Click OK.
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Automatically Log On a User Account in Windows XP
This article describes how to automatically log on a user account during the Windows startup process.
Note: This process only works if the computer is not joined to a domain.
Requirements
The Welcome screen must be available.
Guest account access must be turned off.
There must be only one user account on the computer.
The user account must not have a password.
Make the Welcome Screen Available
To make the Welcome screen available:
Click Start > Control Panel > User Accounts.
Click Change the way users log on or off.
Click to select the Use the Welcome screen for fast and easy logon check box.
Click OK.
Turn Off Guest Account Access
To turn off Guest account access:
Click Start > Control Panel > User Accounts.
Click the Guest account.
Click Turn off Guest access.
Remove the Password from a User Account
To remove the password from a user account:
Click Start > Control Panel > User Accounts.
Click the user account.
Click Remove my password.
Type the password in the Type your current password box, and then click Remove Password.
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View the Storage Devices That Are Displayed As "USB SCSI Storage Device" in Windows XP
USB devices that are using an SCSI-to-USB adapter are displayed as "USB SCSI Storage Device" in the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar. Finding which device you want to remove may be confusing if your computer has more than one of these devices.
Open the Safely Remove Hardware dialog box, and then click to select the Display Device Components box.
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How to Quickly Lock Your Computer and Use Other Windows Logo Shortcut Keys
This article describes how to quickly lock your computer as well as the other Windows logo shortcut keys that you can use.
Windows XP includes a new Microsoft Natural Keyboard shortcut to lock your computer. Any other compatible keyboard that includes the Windows logo key and the Application key can also perform this task.
To use this shortcut:
Press the Windows logo key + L.
The following list has different computer lock-up scenarios that are available to you, as well as other ways to lock the computer:
Fast User Switching Enabled
If the Fast User Switching feature is enabled and you lock the computer, you can observe the same behavior as if you switched users: The computer returns to the Welcome screen and other users can log on to the computer.
Fast User Switching Disabled
If the Fast User Switching feature is disabled and you lock the computer, the Unlock Computer dialog box is displayed that requires the current logged-on user to enter a password to unlock the computer.
Welcome Screen Enabled
If the Welcome screen is enabled, the computer can also be locked if you press Ctrl+Alt+Del (to open Task Manager), and then click Lock Computer or click Switch User on the Shut Down menu.
Note: The ability to observe "Lock Computer" or "Switch User" on the Shut Down menu is dependent upon whether or not the Fast User Switching feature is enabled.
Welcome Screen Disabled
If the Welcome screen is disabled, you can lock the computer if you press Ctrl+Alt+Del, and then click Lock Computer in the Windows Security dialog box.
In all of the preceding scenarios, the "Windows logo key + L" shortcut can lock the computer. If you do not have a password that is set for your user account, anyone can unlock your computer. To set a password for your user account: In Control Panel, double-click User accounts, select your user account, and then click Create a password.
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Prevent a User From Running or Stopping a Scheduled Process in Windows XP
This step-by-step article describes how to prevent a user from running or stopping a scheduled process in Windows XP.
There are occasions where is not advisable to run a scheduled process before the intended date and time, or when an administrator doesn't want a user to add new scheduled processes to the computer. You can use the following procedures to enable maximum control over what can be done with the Scheduler service.
Click Start > Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
On the File menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in. On the Standalone tab, click Add.
In the Available Standalone Snap-ins list, click Group Policy, and then click Add.
In the Select Group Policy object box, click Local Computer to edit the local Group Policy object, or click Browse to find the Group Policy object that you want.
Click Finish, click Close, and then click OK. The Group Policy snap-in opens the Group Policy object for editing.
Expand either the User Configuration or Computer Configuration branch, and then expand Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Task Scheduler.
Double-click Prevent Task Run or End, click Enabled, and then click OK.
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Use ClearType to Enhance Screen Fonts in Windows XP
This step-by-step article describes how to enable ClearType to sharpen fonts on your Windows XP display. ClearType enhances your display by smoothing the edges of screen fonts. ClearType works especially well on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) devices, including flat screen monitors and laptop computers.
Click Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Themes > Display.
On the Appearance tab, click Effects.
Click to select the Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts check box, and then click ClearType in the list.
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How to Customize ClearType
You can adjust the contrast setting for ClearType for your personal preference. Although there are no tools or settings in Windows XP for doing this, the following Microsoft Web site includes tools to turn ClearType on or off, and to adjust the contrast:
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/cleartypeactivate.htmback to the top
Display Appears Blurry
ClearType is designed to enhance LCD displays. ClearType may appear slightly blurry on standard desktop monitors and on some LCD displays. You may be able to improve this by customizing ClearType as described in the "How to Customize ClearType" section of this article.
In rare cases, perceived blurriness is caused by a manufacturing anomaly on LCD displays in which the normal striping of red-green-blue is reversed with blue-green-red. Currently, there is no support in Windows XP ClearType to compensate for this anomaly. This could be the problem in cases in which none of the ClearType contrast settings look good on a particular LCD display. In those cases, it may be best to turn off ClearType.
Color Setting Must Support ClearType
To use ClearType, you must have a video adapter and monitor that support a color setting of at least 256 colors. Best results are achieved with High color (24-bit) or Highest color (32-bit) support.
To change the color quality:
Click Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Themes > Display.
On the Settings tab, in the Color quality list, click a different color setting.
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How to Change the Length of Time That Your Computer Is Inactive Before Your Status Becomes "Away"
This article describes the "Away" status in Windows Messenger. This article also describes how to change the length of time that elapses before your individual status appears as "Away" in Windows Messenger.
The "Away" status appears automatically after your computer has been inactive for a period of time that is equal to the Wait time for your screen saver.
To manually specify "Away" as a status:
Click File, click My Status, and then click Away.
To change the length of inactive time before your status becomes "Away,":
Either change the screen saver Wait setting in the Windows Display Properties dialog box.
or, if you want to specify a time other than the screen saver Wait time, change the inactivity time in the Windows Messenger Options dialog box.
To change the Windows screen saver Wait setting:
Right-click the Windows Desktop, and then click Properties.
Click the Screen Saver tab, and then type the appropriate number of minutes in the Wait box. (You must have a screen saver selected.)
Click Apply.
The screen saver Wait time automatically appears in the Windows Messenger Options dialog box as the default "Away" status wait time.
To select an "Away" status wait time that is different from your screen saver Wait time:
In Windows Messenger, on the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the Preferences tab.
In the Show me as "Away" when I'm inactive for box, type the number of minutes. This number overrides the screen saver setting and is the time that elapses before Away appears next to your name on the list.
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