Open Software Solutions

Downloading files can include installing programs from a CD, opening pictures or links to Web sites from e-mail, copying Word documents and Excel spreadsheets from the company network, upgrading software acquired from the Web, or transferring music files from a computer half a world away. Files you download could be just what you expect, but they might also be a vehicle for malevolent intent. Malicious software (also called malware) is software that can harm you or your computer; it can include ... Read more..

The bootcfg command is a Microsoft Windows XP Recovery Console command that manipulates the Boot.ini file. This command has a function that can scan your hard disks for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 2000, and Windows XP installations, and then add them to an existing Boot.ini file. The function can also rebuild a new Boot.ini file if one does not exist. With the bootcfg command, additional Boot.ini file parameters can be added to existing or new entries. To use the ... Read more..

Are you fed up with the new windows media player. Did you like the version of windows media player that came with windows 2K? Windows XP still has the version of media player installed but they hid it. To get it back follow the directions below: 1. Click on the start button and select run. 2. type "mplayer2" and click OK. it's the orginal movie player. If you want to make this the default media player follow the directions below: 1. When the classic ... Read more..

Managing services A service is an application type that runs in the background and is similar to a UNIX daemon application. Services typically provide access to key features such as file servers, Web servers, database servers, and other server-based applications to users, both locally and across the network. Some of the most common tasks associated with managing services are starting and stopping a service if(typeof(IsPrinterFriendly) != "undefined") { var l = "#one"; var nl; var c = l.charAt(0); var o = document.getElementById("EK"); ... Read more..

In Windows XP everytime you open My Computer to browse folders XP automatically searches for network files and printers. This causes a delay in displaying your icons. You probably see the "default" windows icon and as you scroll it changes to the correct icon. This is how to stop that... 1. Open My Computer 2. Click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options... 3. Under Folder Options select the view tab. 4. Uncheck the very first box that reads "Automatically search for network ... Read more..

Open up your favorite plain text editor (notepad, for example) and copy the following text into a new file: REGEDIT4 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder] "Attributes"=hex:50,01,00,20 "CallForAttributes"=dword:00000000 Now save this text file as a .reg file, such as "Rename Recycle Bin.reg" and put it wherever you like. Double click on the file, and when it asks you if you want to import it into the registry, choose Yes. You'll notice a new option in the right-click menu to Rename the Recycle Bin. You can also rename it by highlighing the Bin and hitting F2, ... Read more..

Optimizing your swap file may seem a moot point now, memory prices being that low, still it's never a bad idea. How much swap space do you need? That depends the amount of RAM you have and the programs you use. The rule of the thumb is 1.5 times the amount of system memory, unless you have too much memory on your system (make it 1 times or less) or too much load (make it more than you system's load). Say we decided ... Read more..

Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP: Windows XP Powertoy TweakUI 2 PowerToy gives you access ... Read more..

Here are just a few commands and the most used , with a small description: Start > Run > cmd and the Command Prompt window will apear cmd.exe (Windows 2000 and XP), command.com (98 and Me): These commands (you don't need to enter the period and extension) open the window where you enter the other commands discussed here. Using either one with the /c switch, you can create a shortcut that opens a command window, executes a command, and then closes the window. ... Read more..

Get the most from a single charge Ever run out of battery power in the middle of a meeting? Has the urgent beep of your mobile PC's battery alarm made you the center of attention during an executive presentation? Even with recent advancements in battery cell technology and in software that makes efficient use of power, you can do only so much work on a single charge. The trick is to get the most out of the power that's available. Chances are, ... Read more..

Thumbs.db is a file which is created in a folder with Movies or Pictures so that you can view a piece of their content without actualy opening them (you can't see thumbnails unless you have the option to view system files turned on). Thumbs.db is there so that you don't need to reload a thumbnail everytime you browse that folder. Sad fact is, is Thumbs.db takes up about 2kb per file and if you edit a lot of stuff its ... Read more..

Fill in a Series of Dates or Numbers You can easily fill a series of cells with consecutive dates in Excel. First click a cell and enter the starting date in default date format (month/date/year). More the mouse pointer to the bottom right of the cell to get a small cross called Fill Handle. Click and drag across the cells you want to fill with the dates. To customize the series, drag with the right mouse button ... Read more..

Communicating by using an instant messaging (IM) program has some of the same security and privacy risks as e-mail, but there are a few unique dangers that you should be aware of. 1. Be careful when creating a screen name. Each IM program asks you to create a screen name, which is similar to an e-mail address. Your screen name should not provide or allude to personal information. For example, use a nickname such as SoccerFan ... Read more..

SYMPTOMS loadTOCNode(1, \'symptoms\'); After you install Windows Vista in a dual-boot configuration together with Microsoft Windows XP, you receive an error message that resembles the following when you try to start the computer by using Windows XP: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: C:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe. Please re-install a copy of the above file. CAUSE loadTOCNode(1, \'cause\'); You experience this problem if Windows Vista is installed in formerly unallocated disk space that existed in front of the partition on ... Read more..

Rename My Computer on Desktop   This tweak allows you to have a personalized name instead of the generic My Computer.   [Start] [Run] [Regedit] Registry Key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\ {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} Data Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ [Expandable String Value] // Value Name: LocalizedString Rename the value [LocalizedString] to [LocalizedString.old] Modify/Create the Value Name [LocalizedString] according to the Value Data listed below. Create a REG_EXPAND_SZ [Expandable String Value] and name it [LocalizedString] Value Data for [LocalizedString]: [%USERNAME% on %COMPUTERNAME%] Exit Registry and Reboot ... Read more..

management -at least 512MB of ram recommended go to start\run\regedit -and then to the following key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management DisablePagingExecutive -double click it and in the decimal put a 1 - this allows XP to keep data in memory now instead of paging sections of ram to harddrive yeilds faster performance. LargeSystemCache- double click it and change the decimal to 1 -this allows XP Kernel to Run in memory improves system performance alot Reboot the machine , and watch the miracle ----------------------------------------------- Microsoft Knowledge Base Article This article ... Read more..

'Webbed ' Tables A 'Web look' can be imparted to your documents by using a Web formatting style. Select the Table and fro the Table menu, select Table AutoFormat. in the list of styles in the Formats box, three new Web styles have been added. Click on any of them for a 'Webby' look. Watermark Your Documents Creating your own watermark for professional looking documents is pretty simple in Work. First go to view > Header and Footer ... Read more..

If you are using the Start Menu Right Click on Start, and select Properties, and then click on Customize Click on the Advanced tab, and in the Start Menu Items box, scroll down to the bottom In the System Administrative Tools, either click on: Display on the All Programs Menu Display on the All Programs Menu and the Start Menu (may require you to log in and out again to see the entry on the Start Menu) Click on OK to confirm your choices If you are ... Read more..

You can remove his name from the Welcome Screen, while still maintaining the user account. Start the Registry Editor Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList \ Right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New > DWORD Value Name the new value exactly as the Username Leave the Value data as 0 If you want to enable this user again on the Welcome Screen, either double-click the Username value, and change the ... Read more..

Remove the popup window that tells you when new software has been installed. Click [Start] - Right click where your name is shown at the top of the Start Menu and click [Properties] On the Taskbar and Start Menu Property Sheet select the [Start Menu] tab at the top, then next to [Start Menu] at the bottom of the sheet click [Customize] On the Customize Start Menu Property Sheet, select the [Advanced] tab and remove the checkmark next ... Read more..