Windows XP Pro First Impression

[Rick]

Windows XP Pro

I took the plunge today and picked a copy of XP pro.
The intent being to install it on a dualie system that is under construction at the moment.
In the mean time I wanted to get a head start on the Program.
Learn as much about it as possible and fine tune it on this Tbird 1.2

Well the install was a bit of a pain.
It froze every time I ran winnt.exe ( 3 times)
After installing the setup files on my C: drive.
Even using a 40x cd drive.

I ended up running winnt32.exe to complete the install onto an empty partition.
The install was going to over write my old O/S till I used the Advanced option and told it to use the blank / empty partition.

Allowing it to partition and format it as NTFS was the option I used.

My first impression is ( This Thing Is SLOW) even after turning off many of the new bells and whistles .
Setting it to the old style menu didn’t help

with 512 meg of PC133 ram on an Asus a7v133 running an IBM 60 gig ata/100 drive and Matrox G400 video card

I Know I will have to terminate a number of the unneeded and unwanted processes that running in the back ground.
But I think it’s going to be a long UPHILL battle .

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[ranchdog]

This probably means no Christmas card for Uncle Bill.... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif


eXcruciating Pain.

------------------
......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

[Rick]

Only IF he will give me an RMA for all my OLD copies of Windows.
Note I am NOT holding my Breath.

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[rond36]

Rick, I'm running ME and XP duelboot on a 1200 Athlon 200 FSB with 384MB PC 100 SDRAM. XP seams to run alot faster and more stable than ME. I have XP on a FAT 32 partition and on a different physical drive. I have found that having both OS's on FAT 32 I can backup XP from ME and it will backup all files even the registry and cookies because nothing is open or in use. You can even use PowerQuest Drive Image in ME to image the XP drive(something MS doesn't want to happen)But I have found that it is better to image the drives from DOS with the disks created when you install Drive Image it will work on NTFS partitions. If you are going to use XP on a NTFS partition when you download files for use with both systems download them to a FAT 32 partition so WIN 9X can use them too.

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Alright who messed it up this time!

[Rick]

Rond36

I am also dual booting 98/XP
I chickened out when I started and removed the Linux drive or I would be triple booting
I must also agree with using the fat32 partition for downloads

I have dug a little more into why it seams slower.
1. The G400 32meg agp card is listed as PCI ? (even after installing New drivers)
2. Still have far to many processes running in the back ground ( Down to 16 now)

I have also found that reinstalling some of the software I use most does in fact run faster under XP .
So I end up with 2 copies of Corel WP installed .
Also this had to be done just to get it to run correctly due to files used from the system folder.

As it stands today I will have to also upgrade 4 more programs ($50-$120 each) to continue to use XP .
This is not a surprise .. I had figured on it. It’s just another price we are being forced to pay

One point on the compatibility issue .
XP found and installed drivers for every piece of hard ware in my system.
Including the SB Live 5.1 value, PD-CD, cd-rw, Tape drive(scsi), and Dvd
To bad it doesn’t include a DVD played / decoder for the Windows Media player.
My old one won’t work under XP. ( Yet another Upgrade)

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[rond36]

Ihave found that SB Live suround mixer and my scanner and my joy stick and most of my games don't work right in XP.XP won't load the plugin for the mixer. It won't turn the light off on the scanner and if you unplug my USB joy stick it looses the drivers and won't let me reinstall them and it dosent support it on the game port. also having burner problems but I think everyone that was running Easy CD Creator 4 and Direct CD 3 is having the same problem. I can install a game play it but the next time I go to play it, it says that the game isn't compatible and won't play and the compatibility tool won't work and it won't let me reinstall. I just stoped using all of them in XP and bootup ME and use them there

------------------
Alright who messed it up this time!

[Samantha]

Infoweek's review of XP found it to be significantly slower than Win2000 for business uses and recommended not using it with anything less that 2GHx processor. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
S~~

[Rick]

Round
I think I am one step ahead on the scanners
My E6 works with XP and didn’t require adding any extra drivers.
However the 35T film scanner by the same company isn’t supported.

I haven’t tried to add anything to the SB live .
It’s working with the XP built in drivers and NO extras.

If you stop by easy Creator web site you will find they are not updating version 3 and 4 to XP http://www.roxio.com/en/support/index.jhtml

I have version 5 and found the update works well.
It did cause a system lockup after installing the upgrade and xp update.
but a reboot and start with last known working config started the system and allowed the update to complete.
Both easy cd and directcd work normally with my Yamaha cd-rw


I am not the happiest XP user or willing user .
But If I am going to support it I need to use it and find the program limits and work arounds.
3 weeks ago I had no intention of using it or even spending the $$ for.
This week alone I have had to support it for 3 people http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[andreadebiase]

I installed XP pro. recently and took a risk wiping out my entire hard drive (backing up my stuff first ofcourse). Well, installation went smooth and after 3 weeks still goes fine. I had to update a couple of drivers for XP but the rest was easy. I am not familiar with dual boots and other amenities like this but i have to say it: It works for me so far and I like it a lot.


------------------
#!@$*%.....just format the damn C:

[Jumby]

I'll be doing a fresh install of XP Home soon, and I hope my results are the same as yours andreadebiase.

[sea69]

I just got back from a friends house running winXP-Pro on a 1.3Ghz T-Bird, 256ddr RAM. (he built it)

FAT32.

it was pretty fast and stable, also not too shabby in responsiveness opening programs.

There were no conflicts apparent in fact it was allot like my pc- it worked (like it is supposed to)

We burned some cd's and basically I couldn't see all that much difference in speed from my T-Bird 800Mhz 256 sdram, win98se.

Perhaps if I had used it longer...............

all in all I think I might give XP-Pro a try too.

why not?

note: try here (http://www.pcpitstop.com/) for an XP compatibility test.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[diurnal]

Dont like it, had to download 9mb of patches, and since i dont have broadband i rather not.
Also you throw a game or 2 in the equation and its worthless.
I ll wait a while to put it back on my machine.
Also i dont like how explorer will stack up opened pages it to one window.
At 1st i gave xp a 8 now i give it a 5 out of 10.

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[Rick]

One Item I do like about XP and the NTSF format for the XP partition.
Unlike a Linux partition Win98se will not even attempt to display the xp partition.

So there is no need to block that partition for explorer or the system under 98.
Also having both fat32 and ntsf on the drives helps by not allowing windows 98 programs
to over write the XP files and programs.

So far I have not seen a single program try to write to the c: drive during an XP install.

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[sea69]

so the question I suppose for allot of folks is: Do I use FAT32 or NTFS??

now the stability factor comes from the NTFS, and the adaptability seems to come from FAT32 right ??

heh

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)




[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 12-07-2001).]

[Rick]

In my case.
Using both Fat32 and NTFS looks to me the way to go.
At least in a dual boot system.


Now if I can just find a way to disable MSN Message Completely and Permanently.
Disabling it in the start works.
Until you start Outlook express . Then There it is again. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif
Mark it in the process as NOT allowed and it slows every thing Down.
Like opening Outlook. From seconds to Minutes to start it.
I wouldn’t mind finding the Uninstall for outlook also .. ( there isn’t one)
I did find the Internet Explorer Uninstall and it even works. But Out Look is still there http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[ErnieK]

Rick
I have sent an e-mail to you with the instructions to do what you want. To lazy to type it all tonight. So scanned details and made JPEG file (73KB's)
I know my comp is clean but remember to run Virus scan for your saftey. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
Ernie

[ErnieK]

Rick
I have sent an e-mail to you with the instructions to do what you want. To lazy to type it all tonight. So scanned details and made JPEG file (73KB's)
I know my comp is clean but remember to run Virus scan for your saftey. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
Ernie

[Rick]

Thanks.

It even allowed me to remove dialer ( No Modem in this system)
To bad outlook wasn't listed in the add remove But I did get rid of a few extras.

Thanks again


------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[Rick]

Here is the info from the above messages. / e-mail

The number of entries in the Add/remove Windows Components list doesn’t show all the files you can remove.
To expand this list, Edit the Sysoc.ini file in Windows\Inf directory.
Perform a global search and look for each ,HIDE entry.
Replace them with , (comma).

If you now run the Windows Components Wizard, You’ll find many extra options

The Method above also reveals More items that can be seen in ADD/Removed Windows Components / Programs (Like MS Messenger ) (Hyper Terminal)

As with other items in the add/remove window.
Just select it and click on remove



[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 12-08-2001).]

[Rick]

Well it has taken me 2 weeks to find and remove “all” the unwanted excess in XP.
Those annoying bells and whistles that I for one Don’t want.
(Except for Outlook ) Can’t uninstall it . Or should I say I haven’t found a way YET.

If you want to make changes and Yes increase the performance of your system.
I recommend TweakUI first. That one little program combined with the above changes to the sysoc ini file will give you the ability to make the changes you want.

I also found the windows annoyances . Org site very helpful
http://www.annoyances.org

I also feel I should warn those who use Nortons Systems Works Pro
To use caution when installing and using it.
My first use of the system doctor and or win doctor caused XP to fail at boot up
Forcing me to restore a previous saved Reg file.
That forced me to redo all the modification I had made..

[ErnieK]

Rick.
Would it be asking too much for you to post (or send direct) the "Tweaks" you have discovered in XP? also, if you want, I will scan in the rest of the artcle that the last piece came from and zip it up for you, About 80-90 tips all together, including a couple of reg tweaks. (What is the Smilie for a groveler? or as we say over here in Scotland a Sook):-) You might find some of the tips there useful. I will meanwhile look and ask around about getting rid of Outlook. I will be trying out XP on my own comp, after all it is safe to do so for about 30days, then uninstall it again. I have not looked too closley at it yet, only enough to get friends son's computer going.

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Ernie

[iisbob]

After watching this post for awhile, i decide to bite the bullet again and install XP Pro ( i have been given a full version http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif )-so i deleted my W2k trusty partition and laid on with the XP again.

I've already had and evalutated one of the original beta releases and wasn't really all that impressed.

SHAZAM!! What a diff the actual full release was!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

I had to install NO drivers!! That's right! Not a single driver install was required by me!! XP's HCL { hardware compatability list } is phenomenal!! Actually i did update the Geforce drivers-but not until after i had the system installed!

This is the first time in my memory that a WinOS was truely Plug n Play!

Think i'm gonna give it a whirl for awhi;le and see how my apps hold up in it; if they like it-then i reckon it'll be time to blow away the 98 partition. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif


As a side note, because of the special "coporate " nature of my copy i had to go thru no activation. Sweeeet!


------------------
iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[Ghost_Hacker]

As a side note, because of the special "coporate " nature of my copy i had to go thru no activation. Sweeeet!


Oh stop bragging...... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[sea69]

LoL- GH!!

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[iisbob]

LOL! sorry! just thought that was so ironic that MS is so concerned about "piracy " yet they have to enable this loophole or Buisnesses wont buy into it. Could you imagine having to go thru the activation process on several thousand clients?!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif


This was "given " to me for evaluation purposes; ie-even though coperate has finally decide to upgrade to W2K from NT4.0 ( service pack 4 )-they agreed to a purchase of the newest OS just in the off chance it might be a better deal to go ahead and bite the bullet and get with the newest OS-saving themselves some cash down the road, or at least for another 4-6 years.


So, depending on my, and a few other admins, opnions and observations-our company may just jump on the bandwagon for XP. Especially if there is no clowny "activation" crap.

The bigggest selling feature ( or 1 of them anyways ) is the ability to totally restrict the users ability to download/execute attachments. Period.

So far it's been oky-doky http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif



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iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[RKBA]

For those of you considering "upgrading" to WinXP, you might want to take a look at this.

-- Ron


Windows Vulnerable to Hack Attacks (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7050-2001Dec20.html)

By Ted Bridis
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, December 20, 2001; 1:24 PM

WASHINGTON –– Microsoft's newest version of Windows, billed as the most secure ever, contains several serious flaws that allow hackers to steal or destroy a victim's data files across the Internet or implant rogue computer software. The company released a free fix Thursday.

A Microsoft official acknowledged that the risk to consumers was unprecedented because the glitches allow hackers to seize control of all Windows XP operating system software without requiring a computer user to do anything except connect to the Internet.

Microsoft made available on its Web site a free fix for both home and professional editions of Windows XP and forcefully urged consumers to install it immediately.

The flaws, discovered five weeks ago by independent security researchers, threatened to undermine widespread adoption of Microsoft's latest Windows software, which many hope will be an economic catalyst for the sagging technology industry.

The company sold more than 7 million copies of Windows XP in the two weeks after it hit stores Oct. 25.

The vulnerabilities were discovered by three young security researchers with eEye Digital Security Inc. of Aliso Viejo, Calif., led by Marc Maiffret, a 21-year-old former hacker. In recent months, Maiffret, who calls himself the firm's "chief hacking officer," has advised the FBI and the White House on Internet security questions and testified before Congress.

The Windows XP problems affect a little-used feature that eventually will allow consumers to control high-tech household appliances using their computers. Called "universal plug and play," the feature is activated by design in every copy of Windows XP and can be added manually to Microsoft's earlier Windows ME software, also used by millions of consumers worldwide.

"This is the first network-based, remote compromise that I'm aware of for Windows desktop systems," said Scott Culp, manager of Microsoft's security response center. "Every Windows XP user needs to immediately take action." He called it a "very serious vulnerability."

Microsoft said a new feature of Windows XP, known as "drizzle," can automatically download the free fix, which takes several minutes to download, and prompt consumers to install it. Microsoft also is working with other software companies, such as leading antivirus and firewall vendors, to build protection into their products.

Maiffret and his researchers demonstrated the flaws for The Associated Press by hacking into a reporter's laptop running Windows XP from 2,300 miles away and successfully instructing the computer to connect automatically several times to the Web site for the National Security Agency, the government's super-secret spy agency.

© 2001 The Associated Press

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Centerfire (http://home.pacbell.net/rsdotson/) ‘‘The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.’’ -- Thomas Jefferson

[Ghost_Hacker]

More Information here:
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-8244349.html?tag=mn_hd
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-059.asp. (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-059.asp)


[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 12-20-2001).]

[iisbob]

Yeh, we recieved a "minor" security warning from MS about this and it was suggested we update to " ..fix this minor flaw..". http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Hmph. If they ever come out with an " un-hackable" OS, it'll mean no ones using a computer anymore! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

------------------
iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[Reid]

I got off to a good start with XP; it had drivers for the vid card and PCI modem, and it has a good look. It seemed to run as fast as SE, if not a little faster. The modem connect speeds are higher and downloads are faster. The MS update works much faster than it did for 98.

However, trying to load and run programs has not gone so well. PhotoFinish 3 thinks there is a memory problem and halts (well, it is an old program.) I read in Deja that that happens. The Compatibility Wizard could not fix it.

I also loaded Corel PhotoPaint 8, but every photo editing function causes a fault. It generates a problem report that can be sent to MS, then shuts the program down.

I set the UPS as generic as the maker recommends, but then XP sees the UPS on every boot as a new device. I went ahead and loaded the UPS program (which CyberPower says will work), but the program can't communicate with the UPS.

I got the scanner TWAIN interface to work somewhat, but the bottom of the scanned image gets corrupted.

Since I do a lot of scanning and graphics work, the current state of XP does not make it a useful OS for me. I don't have much faith in MS fixing things.


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Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

[sea69]

I'm posting from a brand new install of winXPPro and so far it is surprisingly nice!

The install went perfectly (dual boot with my win98se).

It found or seems to have applied all appropriate drivers, including my lexmark printer and logitec pro cam.

It seems faster to me, allot.

I like it.


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif


oh- and how could I neglect to add that it also was effortless connecting to my adsl verizon winpoet connection. I didn't need to install anything. No cd's nothing.

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 12-26-2001).]

[sea69]

want to point out that I had tried to install this OS two times before from within win98se, these attempts were unsuccesful.

What did work (very well) was to insert the cd and reboot to install before windows was running.

now maybe it was just me, I don't know, but if you are having any problems with the install try that.

also, I installed to my D (compaq system_save) drive, just to see if I liked the OS enough to use it more than 5 minutes.

I am here to report that I am strongly considering making XP my primary OS.

(this coming from a die-hard win98se person)

may keep win98 around on a small partition.....

hehe

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 12-27-2001).]

[Reid]

I like XP more the longer I use it. I have to realize that PhotoFinish 3 is an old program (from the days of Windows 3.1) and I should upgrade. I read that PhotoFinish 4 does not have the same memory problem that 3 has. I also got PhotoPaint 8 to work after reloading it.

I installed XP on a clean drive because I needed to clear out some junk, and there were some incompatible programs on the disk.

Since scanners are inexpensive, I may just buy a new USB, XP compatible model. In the mean time, I can flip the "boot switch" and run WIN98SE when I need to scan.

------------------
Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

[Blue Vitriol]

I am actually quite fond of XP pro. I have seen a speed increase and the addition of some more usefull interface features was welcome.

I have had issues with one or two games but those games were released well before XP so I am not too suprized to see some conflicts out there.

Many of the complaints I have seen are actually from features that can be toggled on or off at the users whim. Don't be too hasty to judge the OS by its default settings.

Blue Vitriol

[iisbob]

Have to agree with SEA here and say that i'm going to go XP full time-i've never enjoyed or thought so well of an OS since W2K!

To me XP Pro is nothing more than W2k with themes added, so -despite a few minor glithces ( like no drivers for my scanner http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif ) everything else, including my games , run not only smoother-but actually better graphically!!

Hmm, maybe ol' Bill finally got it right! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[Donna]

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif LOL, This almost sounds like a M$ love fest.:P


Hmm, maybe ol' Bill finally got it right!

Do you really think so?

This is the first time I have read anything good about XP, you guys are making me want to try it.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Donna (edited 12-27-2001).]

[sea69]

hehe

yep!

my old Antique_Athlon never ran this fast with win98 according to pcpitstop and sisoftsandra.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif


torn between wanting to be sure, but I am gonna try a few other programs to see how they work and then reformat and install just plain XP.
(I would imagine that would be even faster than my current setup)


no win9x... gonna feel strange here...
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif


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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 12-27-2001).]

[sea69]

decided instead to reverse my free space using Partiton Magic Pro 6.
(they all say to use version 7 but I did the operation from within win98se)

had the XP on my compaq's system_save D drive which was approxiamtely 5 gigs, and win98 on the remainder on C drive.

Worked perfectly!

took a LONG time.. hour or more to complete but now my D drive with XP has 18.6 gigs and my C drive with win98se has 4.8gigs with 1 gig free.

Both operating systems boot and work 100%

I was amazed.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[sea69]

Rick?

a search for "Sysoc.ini " turned up no results on my machine>>?

wonder why?

I allow show all hiden and system files and rebooted, but still not found.



------------------
sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[iisbob]

It's sysoc.inf Sea. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[sea69]

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.........!@!


Thanks iisbob!

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[Rick]

TYPO On my part . SORRY !!



------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[sea69]

was it??

I thought it was on my part.

oh well.

btw- I decided to try Office 2000 instead of XP and word 2000 at least works very well.

It opens too fast to see who it is registered to.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 12-28-2001).]

[TheAnt]

Originally posted by Rick:
I wouldn’t mind finding the Uninstall for outlook also .. ( there isn’t one)
I did find the Internet Explorer Uninstall and it even works. But Out Look is still there http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif


I was referred over here by Sea69, as I am about to undertake a traumatic partitioning experience for the first time (posted in another topic). I know the topic here is not about partitioning. Anyway, looking through the posts here, Rick's statement caught my eye. You may already know about a radical Tweak-type program called 98lite. They also offer a program called "IEradicator".....here is their description & link:

"IEradicator is tiny, script that uses the Windows setup engine to surgically remove Internet Explorer versions 3 through 6.0 from Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium and Windows 2000(sr1)."
http://www.98lite.net/ieradicator.html

They do not have it for Windows XP. I just emailed their support/contact address and asked if they are thinking about offering something for XP. In the past, I always heard complaints how Microsoft has tightly integrated Internet Explorer with Windows, making it difficult to un-install/remove. Some have said this cannot be done.....well, it looks like this Tweak program can do it (they've been around, a bit).

My intent with partitioning is, to put Windows XP on it's own partition and the added programs that I install, on a separate partition. I even thought about maybe trying to move the Internet Explorer program onto the programs partition.....but I feel, that I may be pushing the envelope too much.....it may screw-up Windows XP?




[This message has been edited by TheAnt (edited 12-28-2001).]

[Rick]

Thanks for the Link to Ieradicator
I’ll have to take a look at it in the future.
Killing one hassle at a time with XP.


Your Idea of the Partitions will work for almost all your software programs.
Except for IE.
I think you will find that it will not allow you to change the install drive.
Being so tightly woven into the O/S

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[baoluanle]

is win xp pro any better than win 2k pro? is the upgrade from win 2k pro to xp pro worth the money???

[iisbob]

From an original user of NT; then W2K-YES -and upgrade is definately worth it IMHO. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
iisbob

CPU= 5mhz
Memory= 16 K
Storage=10.2MB's
Video=Onboard S3 4K
Modem=14.4 baud
Sound=ISA Yamaha 8bit
Mouse=2 button MS
Monitor=ACER 12.5"
OS= { dual boot }DOS 2.1 & WIN 3.1

My ultimate gaming system :)

[princejoe]

I would like to ask a few questions since this thread is about XP. There has been articles regarding the security flaw in XP which allowed hackers get control of computer.. so after I installed XP pro for a few days, I was thinking to download the patch from windows update which said would fix the flaws in XP, but I read article from extremetech.com saying that these patches would make your system even worse, such as slow down, unstable or even crash your PC. Have guys tried downloading the patches after u installed the XP? Any particular patch I should download to fix the securtity flaw they been talking about? I was wondering if it's safe to go to windows update to download all the updates they recommenend u.
Also, I am using metconnect(a local internet service provider) for internet. everytime when I turn on the PC, ICQ window would pop up and metconnect would log on automatically. How can I stop that? thanks

[sea69]

you need to disable port 5000, go and get UnPlugNPray (http://207.71.92.193/default.htm)

in icq, you need to be in advanced mode>>disable NetDetec.

To stop any app including outlook express and internet explorer from connecting automatically, in IE click tools>>internet options>>Connections TAB>>under your default setting check "Never connect.

I used the winblows update and Steve Gibsons tool.


let us know if you are using XP Pro, because has a setting that caps off 20% of your bandwidth if not enabled, it is not enabled or configured by default.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif


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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-08-2002).]

[Rick]

I think I found a way to make XP liveable .
After assembling a few Dualie systems.
Just to have them go out the door before I could play with them.
( The first two were intended to be my own But that idea was changed By people willing to pay for them)

I finished my own yesterday.
Using 2 Amd MP 1800+ cpu’s on an Asus A7M266-D with 1gig of memory
I can now say I am willing to keep XP Pro around for work station use..

I will say this. Not A Single BSOD in the first 24 hours.

I will also warn anyone thinking of building one using this board.
Be careful of the HSF you get.
The position of CPU1 is very close to the AGP slot.
If your Agp card has chips on the back the heat from the HSF will be blowing onto the card. ( Half inch clearance ) with Volcano 6 http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif


[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 02-08-2002).]

[sea69]

interesting Rick

my earlier instructions for icq were incomplete.

Here's what you do:

in icq, you need to be in advanced mode>>main>>preferences>>connections>>General TAB, there you will see how to turn off netdetect.

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[princejoe]

thanks for the reply, sea69, I really appreciated.
For the ICQ, I am in advanced mode. Isn't Netdect is used for when u log on to the internet, it turns on the icq for u?
In internet options,the "never dial a connection" has already been check, yet everytime I turn my pc on, it will auto dial.........

what is steve gibsons tool?
Yes, I am using XP Pro, what is the setting u talked about which would caps off 20% of my bandwidth? How do I enable it? Thanks


Originally posted by sea69:
you need to disable port 5000, go and get UnPlugNPray (http://207.71.92.193/default.htm)

in icq, you need to be in advanced mode>>disable NetDetec.

To stop any app including outlook express and internet explorer from connecting automatically, in IE click tools>>internet options>>Connections TAB>>under your default setting check "Never connect.

I used the winblows update and Steve Gibsons tool.


let us know if you are using XP Pro, because has a setting that caps off 20% of your bandwidth if not enabled, it is not enabled or configured by default.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

[princejoe]

sea69, I almost forgot to ask u, how do I disable port5000, and get UnPlugNPray? thanks

[sea69]

sorry if I was unclear.

for icq: in "Connections" control panel under the General Tab you need to uncheck "Launch icq on start"

and the other two in the "Launch" section.

Steve Gibson is the scientist whos website I advised you to visit in my first post.

go there and get the unplugandplay application and use it. This will close port 5000, which is the security problem.

XpPro-bandwidth:

Increasing your usable bandwith (external article)
Written By: BigBrother
This will help increase your bandwidth for any network connection in Windows XP PRO.
Make sure your logged on as actually "Administrator". do not log on with any account that just has administrator privileges. To log in as an administrator:
-click on start->logoff->logoff-in the logon screen hold Ctrl+Alt+Del.-in the user field type 'Administrator'
-in the password field type the password for the administrator (if you don't have one leave blank)-press ok.
Start - run - type gpedit.msc
Expand the "Computer configuration" branch
Expand the "Administrative templates" branch
Expand the "Network" branch
Highlight the "QoS Packet Scheduler" in left window
In right window double click the "limit reservable bandwidth" setting
On setting tab check the "enabled" item
Where it says "Bandwidth limit %" change it to read 0-- Click apply, OK, exit gpedit.msc
Go to your Network connections (start->my computer->my network connection-> view network connections). Right click on your connection, choose properties then under the General or the Networking tab (where it lists your protocols) make sure QoS packet scheduler is enabled.
Reboot , now you are all done.
This is more of a "counter what XP does" thing. In other words, XP seems to want to reserve 20% of the bandwidth for itself even with QoS disabled. So why not use it to your advantage. To demonstrate the problem, start up a big download from a server with an FTP client. Try to find a server that doesn't max out your bandwidth. In this case you want a slow to medium speed server to demonstrate this. Let it run for a couple of minutes to get stable. The start up another download from the same server with another instance of your FTP client. You will notice that the available bandwidth is now being fought over and one of the clients download will be very slow or both will slow down when they should both be using the available bandwidth. Using this "tweak" both clients will have a fair share of the bandwidth and will not fight over the bandwidth.


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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[princejoe]

sea69, thanks again. when u mean by increase my bandwidth, does mean it would increase my internet bandwidth? thanks

[sea69]

yes, by 20%, as that's how much is reserved without Qos unconfiguered.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-08-2002).]

[princejoe]

sea69, does it help my PC's connection speed if it's bandwidth is increased? Thanks

[sea69]

yes, by 20%.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[princejoe]

thanks for the again for reply. Sorry if I asked u a silly question, but isn't connection speed are limited to 56k(I only have either 50k or 53k depending on which ISP I used) for dial up users? If that is the case, how does the bandwidth help increase the connection speed? Thanks

[Rick]

I have found Yet another item Installed Active and unwanted

StickyKeys

Until one of the kids used a game requiring the shift key as a control
I had No idea that this accessability feature was still installed and active
I used the Tweak to remove it at the same time I removed Ms-messenger

By pressing the shift key 5 times you activate Sticky keys. Allowing you use key combos one key at a time.
For those that need this feature It may be handy.
For those with games it’s a hassle. The sticky key Pop-up stops the game
Then displays the stickkey options screen..

You can disable this in control panel
Under the Accessability Icon.
Keyboard tab .
Even if the keyboard is Not checked,
Use the settings tab, The options in there will be.


In addition .
I had to reinstall the accessability features as Administrator then change the option
More Bells and whistles turned On that are Not wanted.

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[iisbob]

Unless you need them, in no version of windows do an istallation of accessability options.

Problem solved. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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iisbob

CPU= 5mhz
Memory= 16 K
Storage=10.2MB's
Video=Onboard S3 4K
Modem=14.4 baud
Sound=ISA Yamaha 8bit
Mouse=2 button MS
Monitor=ACER 12.5"
OS= { dual boot }DOS 2.1 & WIN 3.1

My ultimate gaming system :)

[Rick]

Only problem is.
In Windows XP it is one of the Default Items that is installed and doesn't have an uninstall.
Along with others. Like Pinball.

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[iisbob]

Not so; there is a customization install just as in all versions of windows.

If you do get it installed however, just go to add/remove components and remove it. This is no different than the 95-to 2k series.

You may have to edit the sysoc.inf file to make sure it shows as a component-but it is unistallable and preventive from installation upon a clean install.

I always choose custom install; and i've never installed accessability in my system's simply because i don't require it.



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iisbob

CPU= 5mhz
Memory= 16 K
Storage=10.2MB's
Video=Onboard S3 4K
Modem=14.4 baud
Sound=ISA Yamaha 8bit
Mouse=2 button MS
Monitor=ACER 12.5"
OS= { dual boot }DOS 2.1 & WIN 3.1

My ultimate gaming system :)

[princejoe]

I was thinking of upgrading my Guillemot geforece 256 3D prophet's driver in XP professional, I went to the windows update and found the "Nvidia display driver version 2.3.1.2" then I went to Nvidia's homepage and found the "Detonator XP Driver 2.3.1.1 I was wondering which one is the most update one and which one should I download? Thanks

here are the links for both sites
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp
http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?PAGE=windows2000

[iisbob]

This question really belongs in the audio/video thread-but the latest drivers are actually 27.42 and you can get them here; { Guru3d (http://www.guru3d.com) }.



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iisbob

CPU= 5mhz
Memory= 16 K
Storage=10.2MB's
Video=Onboard S3 4K
Modem=14.4 baud
Sound=ISA Yamaha 8bit
Mouse=2 button MS
Monitor=ACER 12.5"
OS= { dual boot }DOS 2.1 & WIN 3.1

My ultimate gaming system :)

[kfh]

Hi All,
My first impression is as you say eye candy.
I've been dual booting ME XP Pro for a week, It's slow six times slower at defragging as posted yesterday. You can't get on line nine times out of ten. Getting loads of flags from ZA. Still ErnieK/Sea and the others helping me to get it running sweet. It looks pretty so does the girl next door but she a non starter as well.
kfh.


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-------
Illegitimus non tatum carborundum.

[sea69]

kfh- use the winME defragg for winME, and as for winXP- I have only needed to defrag it 2x since install December 26th 2001.

again as I asked in the other thread, how much RAM do you have in your machine??

I only have 256, and things like word2000 open up so fast that I can't even see who it's registered to!

hehe

we also must remember that winXP handles the memory differently than win9x/me- in those older OS's win just gives up the memory addresses without releasing resources from other areas (hence the famous crash/freezer syndrome we are all so used to)

so in other words if it does take a fraction of a second longer for something to open that's the trade for it being able to open EVERYTIME, ALL THE TIME.

.....in theory.....


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 03-02-2002).]

[Rick]

This continues to be strange to me.
Even after doing the clean install of XP pro on the new hardware setup (new M/B and CPU)
Doing a custom install. And after editing the sysco.inf file

I still have the accessability items on my start menu and installed on this beast.
I removed the check marks to uninstall them .
But they are still there.
The Only thing I can think of is that during one of the MS critical updates the program read they were installed and replaced the originals with the updates and doesn’t allow them to be removed by the add/remove programs applet.

BTW I also used the Uninstall for IE and it removed the original version of IE6 but not the Updated version
Unless I can find out what update the files are included in I will be unable to remove these.

Sea
I have yet to run defrag.
I have not seen a reason for it as yet.
I have also Not been able to crash XP except when I ran an Old version of Quake GL
I don’t play games on my system so it doesn’t matter to me that it won’t run.

I have narrowed the Speaker / network disconnect down to feed back from the speaker and XP protecting itself from a voltage change on the network.
Why it reads the SB as a network card is still a puzzle to me

[sea69]

Rick- I ran it once just to see it run, the other time the anaylizer said it needed to be ran.

you're running NTFS right ??

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[Rick]

I'm still running Fat32,
I also redid all the defaults in XP to use the same temp drive as 98
reducing the fragmenting or I think it is

Still working on my first bench mark results that showed
On my hardware the fat32 was a little faster than NTFS

[ErnieK]

Rick
You mention an UNISTALL for IE6? where did you get that? I cannot even find a repair facillity in the default installation of IE6.
This might seem like a stupid Question but using that uninstall would it be possible to un-install IE6 thus allowing me to use 5.1 which has NEVER given me any probs, and would 5.1 work with XP? I know it is unlikely but if you do not ask you never get a knock back http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
Also if you go to the following link plenty of details about what can be disabled and what cannot, with explanations of what each thing does.
http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

kfh
You say you are having trouble connecting to web? What ISP? I get on first time everytime (Eclipse is my ISP)

As for Defrag, I have been told that the reason it takes longer is because it does more than 98\ME defrag does, but that the more you use it the faster it gets. Have used it twice. First ime I used it took a while second time about half the time. (couldbe because was not as badly defragged)



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Ernie

[Rick]

ErnieK

IE was listed in the Add/Remove Programs under Components
It will remove access for it from the desktop and start menu
if you ran any of the Windows updates that included IE then you will not remove it completely
Unless you also remove that update from the Add/remove programs menu also

I have no Idea if the older versions of IE will work under XP

I have already used that Link / site . Working on a network I have to leave many of the services listed there running on my system http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif