1. Get The Inside Details Of An XP Crash Report!

When a program crashes, Windows XP gathers information about the program, its code, and the actual crash. This data is then compiled into a special report. A dialog window appears, which prompts you to send the crash report to Microsoft. While its delivery is optional, remember that Microsoft collects this information and creates fixes based on the data.

Details of the report can be viewed by clicking on the link that specifies: "To see what data this error report contains, click here." However, if you're skeptical about privacy, it's possible to disable Error Reporting.

Here's how:

1. Right-click on My Computer and select Properties.
2. Go to the Advanced tab and click Error Reporting.
3. Click Disable Error Reporting.

If you want Error Reporting only on certain applications, click Enable Reporting and then select Choose Programs.

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2. Save Your Remote Desktop Connection Settings in XP!

You probably remotely connect to only one or two computers -- your home computer or your work computer. You can save the settings for those in a desktop icon for easy access.

The steps (Note: this only works in XP)

1. Choose Remote Desktop Connection from your Start menu.
2. Before you choose what computer you want to connect to, choose Options.
3. Fill out the computer information, including the IP address, user name, and password.
4. Choose Save As, and choose where you want your new icon to appear.
You can place the icon on your desktop for one-click access to the remote computers you use the most.

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3. Decipher The Name Behind The Process!
Windows XP runs numerous processes. To view them, open Task Manager and go to the Process tab. While several of these processes are self-explanatory, the majority of them are not.
Here's a short description of some XP processes:

Csrss.exe:
The Client Server Runtime Subsystem process, also known as the Win32 subsystem, generates a worker thread for client requests.
Explorer.exe:
This process is the user interface/default Windows shell.
Iexplorer.exe:
This process is the built-in Web browser.
Inetinfo.exe:
The Internet Information Services (IIS) process is Microsoft's Web server.
Lsass.exe:
The Local Security Authentication Server process receives authentication requests from Winlogon and calls the appropriate authentication package.
Mdm.exe:
The Machine Debug Manager is a support process for debugging.
Msmsgs.exe:
The Microsoft Windows Messenger process is the built-in instant messaging application.
Services.exe:
The Service Control Manager process is responsible for starting, stopping, and interacting with system services.
Smss.exe:
The Session Manager Subsystem is the first user mode process that's created. It's responsible for the initial launch of other subsystem processes.
Svchost.exe:
This is a placeholder process, or Service Host, where all DLL-based services execute.
System:
The System process contains the majority of the kernel-mode system threads.
System Idle Process:
This process runs when no other process is executing.
Winlogon.exe:
The logon process handles interactive user logons and logoffs.

This list includes processes that are found on most computers, but it's not exhaustive.
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5. Learn How To Disable Simple File Sharing In Windows XP!

Windows XP's Simple File Sharing provides an easy user interface for sharing and securing folders--and the subsequent files--on NT File System (NTFS) partitions. This feature is turned on by default on XP Home Edition and XP Professional when you're working in a workgroup.

To take advantage of Simple File Sharing, right-click a folder and select Sharing And Security. You'll then see a Sharing window that provides the following options:

Make This Folder Private:

This pertains just to folders located inside your user profile, such as My Documents, Desktop, and the Start menu. Checking this option protects the folder so that only you have access to it.
 

Share This Folder On The Network:

To share a folder, check this option and type the name that you want to assign to the share.
 

Allow Network Users To Change My Files:

This option allows other users to modify the files in the shared folder.

While the Simple File Sharing feature can help inexperienced users, some advance users may find it distracting. However, you can turn this feature off in XP Professional. Here's how:

1. Go to the Tools menu in Windows Explorer.
2. Select Folder Options.
3. On the View tab, deselect Use Simple File Sharing (Recommended).
4. Click OK.

Note: It's also possible to share an entire disk with Simple File Sharing, but XP sends you a warning about the security risks that you must acknowledge before continuing with the Sharing options. Microsoft recommends that you only share a specific folder within the disk.

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6. Configure Performance Options To Fit The Computer!

Windows XP includes several features to increase performance. However, some features actually cause your computer to run much slower, especially if your computer is older and doesn't have state-of-the-art components.

There are two places where you can disable various performance-related settings. Right-click the desktop and select Properties. On the Appearance tab, click Effect. If you have an older computer with a slower graphic card, you'll probably want to disable these options:

1. Use The Following Transition Effect For Menus And Tooltips
2. Show Shadows Under Menus
3. Show Window Contents While Dragging

Another set of performance-related settings is located in the System Properties dialog box. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties. On the Advanced tab, click Settings under the Performance option.

For Visual Effects, you can select from three predefined options--automatic, best appearance, and best performance--or manually enable/disable each individual setting. It's a good idea to leave the default settings on new computers, but you should alter the settings on older, slower computers.

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8. To Create Multiple CDs From A Set Of Files In XP!

1. Insert a blank, writable CD into the CD recording drive.
2. Open My Computer.
3. Click the files or folders you want to copy to the CD. To select more than one file, hold down the CTRL key while you click the files you want. Then, under File and Folder Tasks, click Copy this file, Copy this folder, or Copy the selected items.

If the files are located in My Pictures, under Picture Tasks, click Copy to CD or Copy all items to CD, and then skip to step 5.

4. In the Copy Items dialog box, click the CD recording drive, and then click Copy.
5. In My Computer, double-click the CD recording drive. Windows displays a temporary area where the files are held before they are copied to the CD. Verify that the files and folders that you intend to copy to the CD appear under Files Ready to be Written to the CD.
6. Under CD Writing Tasks, click Write these files to CD. Windows displays the CD Writing Wizard. Follow the instructions in the wizard.

When the process is finished, the last page of the wizard displays a check box that enables you to create another CD like the one you just made.

7. Click Yes, write these files to another CD and insert another blank, writable CD into the CD recording drive. Follow the instructions in the wizard.

Side Notes:
- To open My Computer, double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop.
- After you copy files or folders to the CD, it is useful to view the CD to confirm that the files are copied.

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9. To Set Advanced Restore Options In Windows XP!

1. Open Backup.

The Backup Utility Wizard starts by default, unless it is disabled.

2. Click the Advanced Mode button in the Backup Utility Wizard.
3. Click the Restore and Manage Media menu and select the files to restore.
4. Click the Start Restore button.
5. On the Confirm Restore dialog box, click Advanced.
6. Set the advanced restore options you want, and then click OK. See the Notes section for a description of each option.

Side Notes!

- To start Backup, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.

- Selecting Restore security will restore security settings for each file and folder. Security settings include permissions, audit entries, and ownership. This option is available only if you have backed up data from an NTFS volume used in Windows XP and you are restoring it to an NTFS volume used in Windows XP.

- Selecting Restore Removable Storage database will restore the Removable Storage database. If you are not using Removable Storage to manage storage media, you do not need to select this option. Also, this will delete your existing Removable Storage database.

- Selecting Restore junction points, and restore file and folder data under junction points to the original location restores junction points on your hard disk as well as the data that the junction points point to. If you do not select this check box, the junction points will be restored as common directories and the data your junction points point to will not be accessible. Also, if you are restoring a mounted drive, and you want to restore the data that is on the mounted drive, you must select this check box. If you do not select this check box, you will only restore the folder containing the mounted drive.

- Selecting When restoring replicated data sets, mark the restored data as the primary data for all replicas ensures that restored File Replication service (FRS) data is replicated to your other servers. If you are restoring FRS data, you should choose this option. If you do not choose this option, the FRS data that you are restoring may not be replicated to other servers because the restored data will appear to be older than the data already on the servers. This will cause the other servers to overwrite the restored data, thereby preventing you from restoring the FRS data.

- Selecting Restore the Cluster Registry to the quorum disk and all other nodes will ensure that the cluster quorum database is restored and replicated on all nodes in a server cluster. If you select this option, Backup will stop the Cluster service on all other nodes of the server cluster after the node that was restored reboots.

- Selecting Preserve existing volume mount points will prevent the restore operation from writing over any volume mount points you have created on the partition or volume you are restoring data to. This option is primarily applicable when you are restoring data to an entire drive or partition. For example, if you are restoring data to a replacement drive, and you have partitioned and formatted the drive and restored volume mount points, you should select this option so your volume mount points are not restored. If you are restoring data to a partition or drive that you have just reformatted, and you want to restore the old volume mount points, you should not select this option.

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10. Quick-Launch Programs With F Keys

There are two ways to quicken the launch process of any program. You can program the function keys (the F keys at the top of your keyboard). You can also program a combination of Ctrl + Alt + "Shortcut Key" to launch applications.

To do this, follow these directions.
1. Find the icon of the program and right-click on the icon.
 

2. Choose Properties from the menu and make sure you're in the Shortcut tab.
 

3. Place your cursor in the Shortcut key field, pick a function key or a letter you would like to assign the shortcut to, and press it.
 

4. Hit Apply in the bottom-right corner.
 

5. To open the program, press Ctrl + Alt + "Shortcut Key" or the function key you assigned to it.
 

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12. To Copy Files And Folders To A CD With Windows XP Pro Is Pretty Simple!

To copy files and folders to a CD:

1. Insert a blank writable CD into the CD recorder.
 

2. Double-click My Computer, and then click the files or folders that you want to copy to the CD. To select more than one file, hold down the CTRL key while you click the files you want.
 

3. Click any of the following options:
- Copy this file
- Copy this folder
- Copy the selected items

4. In the Copy Items dialog box, click the CD recording drive, and then click Copy.
 

5. In My Computer, double-click the CD recording drive.

Windows displays a temporary area where the files are held before they are copied to the CD. Check that the files and folders that you intend to copy to the CD are displayed under Files Ready to Be Written to the CD.

6. Under CD Writing Tasks, click Write to CD.
 

7. After the CD Writing Wizard starts, follow the instructions in the wizard.
 

8. When the process is finished, the wizard displays a check box for you to choose to create another CD like the one you just made. If you want to create multiple copies of the same CD, click Yes, write these files to another CD and insert another blank, writable CD into the CD recorder. Follow the instructions in the wizard.

NOTE: After you copy files or folders to the CD, it is useful to view the CD to confirm that the files are copied.

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14. Troubleshoot Burning CD's!

- Older CD recorders may not create (or "burn") CD-RW discs. To resolve this issue, use the CD recorder to back up information to CD-R discs.

- You can erase and use CD-RW discs again, but the discs may not play in other devices (such as audio CD players). To resolve this issue, use the CD recorder to back up information on CD-R discs. These discs can be written only once, but they play in most CD players and CD-ROM drives.

- CD recording may fail intermittently. To resolve this issue, use any of the following methods:

- Defragment your hard disk regularly. To start Disk Defragmenter, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.

- Check your hard disk for errors regularly. You can use the Error-checking tool to check for file system errors and bad sectors on your hard disk:

1. Double-click My Computer, and then click the local disk that you want to check.
2. On the File menu, click Properties.
3. Click the Tools tab, and then click Check Now in the Error-checking section.
4. In the Check disk options section, click to select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.

- Be sure to free up enough hard disk space for the files you want to burn to CD. You can use Disk Cleanup to free up space on your hard disk. To open Disk Cleanup, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.

- Before you start the recording process, close all other programs (such as screen savers and anti-virus software), and avoid starting programs that may interrupt the recording process.
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