WinXP top tips

AlanG · 29th November 2004, 03:58 PM

Having just did a reinstall I thought Id share a problem I encountered and invite others to post their WinXP top tips here.

I had a 20GB drive and decided to install my snazzy new 80Gb and put winXP on it to accompany some other new hardware I got.

After a few failed attempts to install XP I managed to get it on, go through the "registering" process and start downloading all the various updates.

Tip before going on the net:
get the LATEST version of Zonealarm and latest virus DAT file burned onto a cd along with any other useful progs first. It was a nightmare on dial up having to dl all these essential programs at first.

I eventually got most of the updates and started doing games etc with large patches (NWN and UO).

I then bunged in my old 20GB drive and started to transfer over the files.

Problem 1:
not all exe files would allow me to copy them. This also explains my Zonealarm problem, dont know what this was caused by but didnt lose any essential exes, mainly only odl versions of programs.

Problem 2:
Permissions for user accounts. Id saved about 5GB of stuff in my documents folder. The windows install died on this machine cos of the shuffling parts around when building new one meaning I couldnt go in adn retrieve so I had to do this manually.

Had to go in as administrator (not just AN administrator) in safe mode. Go to security on my documents folder and assign administrators in several places.

Right click - properties and security tab. Furthest right tab - go to "advanced" then "find names" then selected "AdministratorS". then second from right tab and adding: clicking all boxes to allow permissions. Then closing the box. I then reopened went to teh Auditing tab and assigned Administrators group as having full control. I had to tick for subfolders etc too. ONLY then could I access and copy from the folder.

There was also a problem with some folders and files and I had to do this manually for each file I wanted to save if it hadnt been applied correctly. This took me about 2 hours to retrieve 5gb of data once I figured out what was actually causing the problems.

I had assumed that having the new PC with the same computer name and same account name would allow me in but its a generated registry key that is allocated to the file as owner and not a String so that buggered that up.

In conclusion:
Dont keep stuff in my documents you havent backed up.

I normally have a folder on root called "downloads" where I put everythign I d/l but left things like music and photos in mydocs as the programs to use them autogenerated them there, not from now on!

I recommend backing things up regularly (I was waiting to shove stuff to new drive and wasnt anticipating this problem)

adn also storing as little as possible in My Docs unless you want to restrict access to it, and even then you need to make sure theres no other admin accounts on PC to "secure" your "files which are definately not pr0n".

Anyone else had any weird undocumented problems with WinXP?

Rebelius · 29th November 2004, 04:44 PM

tip number 1 for XP alan, I thought you'd know this: NEVER USE WINDOWS' MY DOCUMENTS FOLDER... EVER!

I use a separate partition called "Documents (D

". My Documents folder just causes hassle when doing things like you've done. i.e. Starting over with Windows but just leaving all your windows files on the hard drive.

Tip 2: Defrag, Defrag, Defrag.

Oh, and make sure to install SP1 and SP2 from Disks before you do anything else. And have your firewall and anti-virus up to date before plugging into the phone line or cable.

RiseAgainst · 1st December 2004, 04:07 PM

i have major issues with XP but then i have issues with all OS Microsoft release
service pack 2 fucked up my style xp and i had to reregister and pay my hard earned US dollars

try storing ur documents on ur 20GB disk therefore if windows fucks up just rip out the disk and use it on any other pc, saved my coursework many times over
and why does XP and winMX hate each other to the point winMX always crashes after 10 hours of use :-/

AlanG · 1st December 2004, 05:43 PM

I had it stored in the My Doc folder through laziness and force of habit from my uni set up btw, had intended to back up before pc fecked up and didnt know there would be a problem with swapping over.

My 20Gb is away to start a merry dance
it will replace someones 10Gb
the 10Gb will replace someones 6gb
the 6Gb will replace someones 1.5Gb
the 1.5Gb will be a swap file on my PC

paul engage · 2nd December 2004, 10:24 AM

top tip for XP:

Bin it and use linux (pref Gentoo)

graham enzk · 2nd December 2004, 05:15 PM

i knew you were going to say that.

TheSombreroKid · 2nd December 2004, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul engage

top tip for XP:

Bin it and use linux (pref Gentoo)

i have to agree, or wait for longhorn

AlanG · 3rd December 2004, 05:32 PM

unfortunately theres no (official) Linux client for Ultima Online

Linux is going on my spare partition though, either red hat or mandrake 10.1 (have both in house)

paul engage · 3rd December 2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan G

unfortunately theres no (official) Linux client for Ultima Online

Linux is going on my spare partition though, either red hat or mandrake 10.1 (have both in house)

you could try WineX (or Cedega as it's now known) under linux- that might work. (wineX is a linux implementation of the win32 api with directX support - ie no emulation as such).

see www.transgaming.com

29th November 2004, 03:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
AlanG ModSword +5 of Editing Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 3,412	WinXP top tips Having just did a reinstall I thought Id share a problem I encountered and invite others to post their WinXP top tips here. I had a 20GB drive and decided to install my snazzy new 80Gb and put winXP on it to accompany some other new hardware I got. After a few failed attempts to install XP I managed to get it on, go through the "registering" process and start downloading all the various updates. Tip before going on the net: get the LATEST version of Zonealarm and latest virus DAT file burned onto a cd along with any other useful progs first. It was a nightmare on dial up having to dl all these essential programs at first. I eventually got most of the updates and started doing games etc with large patches (NWN and UO). I then bunged in my old 20GB drive and started to transfer over the files. Problem 1: not all exe files would allow me to copy them. This also explains my Zonealarm problem, dont know what this was caused by but didnt lose any essential exes, mainly only odl versions of programs. Problem 2: Permissions for user accounts. Id saved about 5GB of stuff in my documents folder. The windows install died on this machine cos of the shuffling parts around when building new one meaning I couldnt go in adn retrieve so I had to do this manually. Had to go in as administrator (not just AN administrator) in safe mode. Go to security on my documents folder and assign administrators in several places. Right click - properties and security tab. Furthest right tab - go to "advanced" then "find names" then selected "AdministratorS". then second from right tab and adding: clicking all boxes to allow permissions. Then closing the box. I then reopened went to teh Auditing tab and assigned Administrators group as having full control. I had to tick for subfolders etc too. ONLY then could I access and copy from the folder. There was also a problem with some folders and files and I had to do this manually for each file I wanted to save if it hadnt been applied correctly. This took me about 2 hours to retrieve 5gb of data once I figured out what was actually causing the problems. I had assumed that having the new PC with the same computer name and same account name would allow me in but its a generated registry key that is allocated to the file as owner and not a String so that buggered that up. In conclusion: Dont keep stuff in my documents you havent backed up. I normally have a folder on root called "downloads" where I put everythign I d/l but left things like music and photos in mydocs as the programs to use them autogenerated them there, not from now on! I recommend backing things up regularly (I was waiting to shove stuff to new drive and wasnt anticipating this problem) adn also storing as little as possible in My Docs unless you want to restrict access to it, and even then you need to make sure theres no other admin accounts on PC to "secure" your "files which are definately not pr0n". Anyone else had any weird undocumented problems with WinXP?

29th November 2004, 04:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rebelius Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 7,213	tip number 1 for XP alan, I thought you'd know this: NEVER USE WINDOWS' MY DOCUMENTS FOLDER... EVER! I use a separate partition called "Documents (D". My Documents folder just causes hassle when doing things like you've done. i.e. Starting over with Windows but just leaving all your windows files on the hard drive. Tip 2: Defrag, Defrag, Defrag. Oh, and make sure to install SP1 and SP2 from Disks before you do anything else. And have your firewall and anti-virus up to date before plugging into the phone line or cable.

1st December 2004, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
RiseAgainst rambling boy of pleasure Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Work id presume Posts: 3,430 Band: bandless :(	winXp i have major issues with XP but then i have issues with all OS Microsoft release service pack 2 fucked up my style xp and i had to reregister and pay my hard earned US dollars try storing ur documents on ur 20GB disk therefore if windows fucks up just rip out the disk and use it on any other pc, saved my coursework many times over and why does XP and winMX hate each other to the point winMX always crashes after 10 hours of use :-/

3rd December 2004, 05:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
AlanG ModSword +5 of Editing Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 3,412	unfortunately theres no (official) Linux client for Ultima Online Linux is going on my spare partition though, either red hat or mandrake 10.1 (have both in house) __________________ Ernie Ross - "I'm not a rent-a-quote MP" 10 Sep 04 Ernie Ross being a rent-a-quote MP 23 Jul 04

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1st December 2004, 05:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
AlanG ModSword +5 of Editing Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 3,412	I had it stored in the My Doc folder through laziness and force of habit from my uni set up btw, had intended to back up before pc fecked up and didnt know there would be a problem with swapping over. My 20Gb is away to start a merry dance it will replace someones 10Gb the 10Gb will replace someones 6gb the 6Gb will replace someones 1.5Gb the 1.5Gb will be a swap file on my PC

2nd December 2004, 10:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
paul engage Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,972	top tip for XP: Bin it and use linux (pref Gentoo)

2nd December 2004, 05:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
graham enzk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: back in the day Posts: 2,777 Band: condition21, ultramegaholocausticwhi rlwindzombiedeathsquad , utter fucking hate, distorted noise, tin pot hippies, spiteful	i knew you were going to say that.