Archive for March, 2004

Maintain Security with Windows XP

Windows XP comes with improved security features that help you protect your computer and your information. However, you must maintain your computers by regularly installing the latest security updates from Microsoft.

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Focus On: Printers and Windows XP

Installing a Plug and Play printer in Windows XP is usually as easy as plugging it into your computer and waiting a few seconds for the Found new hardware message to be displayed. However, if you run into printing problems, whether you?re adding a printer that isn?t a Plug and Play device, setting up a shared printer, or updating a printer driver to work with Windows XP, these links can lead to solutions.

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HOW TO: Change the Volume Licensing Product Key on a Windows XP SP1-Based Computer

This article describes how to change the Windows XP product key in a Volume Licensing installation.

Because of changes in Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows XP-based computers that use a leaked product key that is known to be available to the general public may not be able to install SP1 or automatically obtain updates from the Windows Update Web site.

There are two methods that you can use to change the product key with volume licensing media after installation. You can use either the Windows Activation Wizard graphical user interface (GUI) or a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) script.

The easier method to use is the Use the Activation Wizard method. Use this method when you only have a few computers on which to change the product key. The Use a Script method is best when you have a number of computers on which you have to change the product key.

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The FLUSH CACHE Command Is Not Issued and the Hard Disk May Become Corrupted When You Enter Standby or Hibernate

The flush cache command is not issued to a large hard disk that has a 48-bit logical block address (LBA) enabled. As a result, the hard disk may become corrupted when you enter either the Shutdown state or the Hibernate state.

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Availability of the Windows XP Service Pack 1 Driver That Supports the Mobile Processor Power Management Features of Intel Pentium M Processors

Microsoft has released a processor driver for Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) that supports the mobile power management features of Intel Pentium M processors. These features include Intel Enhanced SpeedStep Technology and Intel Deeper Alert Sleep State. Without this processor driver, Windows XP-based computers that are based on the Intel Pentium M processor may experience reduced battery life, decreased performance, or increased operating temperatures.

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Multimedia Device Does Not Work After You Update Its Driver

After you update the driver for your multimedia hardware device, the device may not work. This issue most likely occurs with TV tuner cards or similar devices.

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Cannot Map a Network Drive Under Different User Credentials

If you use the Map Network Drive Wizard to connect to a network share by using different user credentials and you use the browse functionality to locate the network share, you may receive the following error message:

The network folder specified is currently mapped using a different user name and password. To connect using a different user name and password, first disconnect any existing mappings to this network share.

You receive this error message even though you are not aware of making a different connection.

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HOW TO: Distribute a Custom Desktop Theme to Users in Windows XP

This step-by=step article describes how you can distribute a customized desktop theme to other users of Windows XP-based computers. If you create a customized desktop theme, you can distribute it to other users to standardize the appearance of the Windows XP interface across the enterprise, within departments, or just to those users who admire your design and want to use it.

Click here for the kb article from Microsoft.

HOW TO: Configure Desktop Themes in Windows XP (Q307855)

This article explains how to configure your desktop environment by using desktop themes. Nice article with the basic info on changing, creating and deleting desktop themes.

A desktop theme is a predefined set of window elements that help you personalize your computer to give it a distinctive look and feel. Themes affect the overall appearance of your desktop, including the background, screen saver, icons, fonts, colors, windows, mouse pointers, and sounds.

In Windows XP, you can use the Windows Classic look as your theme, switch desktop themes, or modify elements of existing themes to create new themes and customize your desktop with the appearance that you want.

Click here for the kb article from Microsoft.

HOW TO: Use the Windows Classic Theme in Windows XP

This step-by-step article describes how to make your Microsoft Windows XP desktop look like the desktops in the following operating systems:

Microsoft Windows 95

Microsoft Windows 98

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

Microsoft Windows 2000

Click here for the kb article from Microsoft.