Windows XP tips
Reactivate XP
When Microsoft launched Windows XP, it included a new form of copy protection. After installation, or when more than three components are changed inside a PC, Windows has to be reactivated by internet or telephone. This is a hassle, especially for DIY PC builders, and it’s compounded by the fact that you’re only allowed to activate XP three times over the net. The only option after that is to spend hours entering endless strings of digits via phone.
But did you know that it’s quite easy to circumvent this whole arduous procedure by copying the WPA.DBL file in the system32 folder on to a boot disk before you undertake any new installation. When you need to do a ‘reactivation’, simply copy the file back.
Icons keep appearing with the wrong images on screen?
You need to increase your icon cache. Locate the following Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
Then either create or set the following key: Max Cached Icons to 2048.
Assigning drive letters in Windows NT, 2000 & XP
Control Panel (display all icons if ness)
Admin Tools
Computer Management
Storage Management
First change letters on CD & DVD drives first
Then reboot
Then allocate hard drive partitions
NOTE: check which drives are being used for swap files as these can be spread across all drives
Right click on My Computer, then Properties and Advanced, then Virtual Memory.
Make sure you have adequate swap file space on drive C:
Although setting multiple swap files on multiple physical drives may increase performance, doing so on virtual drives only increases head movement!
