================================ EDWARD'S CHEATSHEET - Windows XP ================================ Rev 1.15 25/01/2019, Rev 1.16 24/1/2022, Rev 1.17 13/11/23, Rev 1.18 22/12/23 This is one of my personal "Cheat Sheets" which I've accumulated and built up over the years to help me and other Technical People solve problems. And maybe remind them or point out some tricks which they may have forgotten or not been aware of. I call them "Cheat Sheets" as they are intended to be very summarised hints that someone might love to have as a quick reference or in an exam :) * To check system configuration, Startup, WIN.INI,SYSTEM.INI etc. START|RUM|MSCONFIG * To check WinXP system information and configuration and CPU type START|RUN|MSINFO32 * To check DirectX version in WinXP START|RUN|DXDIAG * Check Current IP Address and Gateway in WinXP START|RUN|IPCONFIG * To make Hidden System files visible. Some virus make Files and Directories "Hidden System" and they therefore then appear invisible. Run ATTRIB or HELP ATTRIB in a DOS window. Note all the spaces: Start|Run|CMD|ATTRIB -H -S D:\*.* /S /D * Typical c:\boot.ini file which shows boot options for 5 seconds [boot loader] timeout=5 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect * To find temporary files that use up diskspace look in the following: C:\windows\temp C:\Documents and Settings\user1\Local Settings\Temp C:\Documents and Settings\user1\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson\ drwtsn32.log C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ Spybot - Search & Destroy\Logs c:\windows\prefetch\ Java Updates Delete old updates in Control Panel|Add/Remove programs and also check c:\program Files\Java Outlook Express files: C:\Documents and Settings\user1\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\ {D9440912-5896}\Microsoft\Outlook Express * Disk Partitioning FDISK is replaced by DISKPART * GPT to MBR Partition Conversion 1) Bring up a DOS windows Start|Run|cmd 2) diskpart 3) list disk (Lists available disks) 4) select disk (Selects the partition. Ex. "select disk 2") 5a) Type "clean" to delete data and partition 5b) Or type "convert mbr" to convert GPT to MBR 6) Now use Control Panel|Administrative Tools to create MBR partition and format 6a) Right click on disk info on the left. Select "Initialize Disk" 6b) Initialise and format the disk * To format a Hard Disk to FAT32 format /FS:FAT32 X: Where X: is the drive to be formatted * SC - Command Line Utility for Windows Services. Can even remove services from the Registry. Run it from a Command Prompt * To enable Windows Updates from Internet Explorer check these Windows services are running: Automatic Updates (allows the site to find, download and install high-priority updates for your computer) Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) (helps updates download more quickly and without problems if the download process is interrupted) Event Log (keeps a record of updating activities to help with troubleshooting, if needed) To make sure these services are running: 1. Click Start|Run. 2. Type services.msc then click OK 3. In the list of services double-click Automatic Updates|Properties. 4. In the Startup type list select Automatic|Apply. 5. Verify that the Service status is started. If Service Status is stopped click on the Start Button. 6. In the list of services double-click Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)|Properties. 7. In the Startup type list select Manual|Apply. 8. Verify that the Service status is started. If Service Status is Stopped click on the Start Button. 9. In the list of services double-click Event Log|Properties. 10. In the Startup type list select Automatic|Apply. 11. Verify that the Service status is started. If Service Status is Stopped click on the Start Button. Now run Internet Explorer|Tools|Windows Update as usual * If Windows XP Updates fail to install 1) Stop the Windows Update Service. Start|Run|cmd|net stop wuauserv 2) Delete files in c:\windows\softwaredistribution\datastore 3) Delete files in c:\windows\sfotwaredistribution\download 4) Restart Windows Update Service. Start|Run|cmd|net start wuauserv 5) Reboot. Th try doing a Windows Update via Internet Explorer again. * System File Checker (SFC) This is a scan that checks the XP core files & dlls and replaces them if they are corrupt or missing with the correct original version Run SFC /SCANNOW in a DOS window: Start|Run|CMD|SFC|SFC /SCANNOW The PC may ask for the WinXP CD during the scan. When scan is completed do a "Disk Cleanup", then empty the caches and temp files thru "Internet Options", then do a defrag, restart your pc then do a defrag again after the reboot * Config and Autoexec MS DOS Environemt is set by c:\windows\system32.nt and autoexec.nt not c:\config.sys and c:\autoexec.bat * Outlook Express File Locations C:\Documents and Settings\Documents and Settings\user1\Local Settings\ Application Data\Identities\{D9440912-5896-474D-A287-A42A0B31B54D}\ Microsoft\Outlook Express Files can be copied from one PC to another: Deleted Items.dbx Folders.dbx Inbox.dbx Offline.dbx Outbox.dbx Pop3uidl.dbx Sent Items.dbx Address Book for Outloook Express and Outlook is shared and located in C:\Documents and Settings\user1\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\ user1.wab * Outlook File Locations C:\Documents and Settings\user1\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\ Outlook * Over the top reinstallation Reinstall Windows XP without losing your data, personal documents, settings, paramaters and installed programs. XP will reinstall the essential files needed for the functioning of the system, while the rest remains intact. Method 1: - Boot the damaged Windows XP from Hard Disk if possible - Insert the Windows XP CD - Start|Run and type cmd - Type "X:\i386\winnt32/unattend" (X=CD Drive letter) - Let the computer reinstall everything without losing anything. Method 2: - Boot Windows XP installation CD "Windows Setup/Setup is starting Windows" "To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER." Press F8 to accept the licensing terms Setup should find your damaged copy of XP and present it for repair If your damaged copy of XP isn't highlighted in the list box, highlight it now. When it's selected, press R to start the repair process. Windows will install the system files and work on the registry till completed. * Windows XP Activation and Reactivation -Check activation status: Run oobe/msoobe /a If it is activated you seee the message "Windows is already activated." If not yet activated you can start the activation process. - Check how much time you have left to activate: Start|All Programs|Accessories|System Tools|System Information|System Summary Check "Activation Status" entry. If activated it will say "activated" or not appear at all. If not yet activated "Activation Status" will display number of days left to activate - Activation Status File wpa.dbl stores hardware configuration at activation, activation status, expiration info and current hardware specs in WPA.DBL located in %SystemRoot%\System32 or c:\windows\system32 folder. WPA.DBL is encrypted but can be copied. If deleted you have to reactivate Windows XP again. You can not restore WPA.DBL using System Restore as it is not included in the backup. You can copy the file and reuse it if you reinstall windows but made no major hardware changes. - To bypass telephone activation and reactivation find and run xp_activate32.exe I hope this Cheatsheet helps :) Edward Jozis "The Digital Doctor"