Speeding up Boot-Up time.
Improve Boot Performance
Microsoft has a small program available for download [329KB] called
BootVis.exe Tool. It is a performance trace visualization tool for use with Windows XP systems.
Locking Your Computer
In the past, locking your computer required you to press Ctrl+Alt+Del (Windows NT/2000). In Windows XP this will bring up the Windows Task Manager.... but doesn't give you an option to lock your computer. In Windows XP it's as easy as pressing Winkey + L..... But there is a catch... When you have Fast User Switching enabled, this will just bring up the Logon screen. To Disable Fast User Switching, open User Accounts from the Control Panel. Click Change the way users log on or off and un-check Use Fast User Switching.
Repair Internet Explorer
The only way to repair Internet Explorer is to have sfc check the system files by running the command sfc /scannow from the Command Window (Start > Run).
If a repair doesn't do the trick, you can try a reinstall: Run:
rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\Inf\ie.inf
Restore Toolbars in Internet Explorer and/or Windows Explorer
While the cause is not known, the following values in the Registry can become corrupted, making the toolbar, address bar and other tool bars disappear in Internet Explorer and/or Windows Explorer.
The fix is simple. Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Next, Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
There are 3 sub keys: Explorer, ShellBrowser, WebBrowser'
In each of these sub-keys is the entry for ITBarLayout
For IE Toolbars: The WebBrowser Sub-key directly affects IE.
For Windows Explorer Toolbars: The Explorer Sub-key directly affects Explorer.
The ShellBrowser sub-key may affect IE as well. Its effect on IE and Windows Explorer is unknown at this time, so if the first option doesn't work, delete the ITBarLayout value here as well.
Choose the relevant sub-key and right click where it says ITBarLayout and select Delete.
The deleted value will automatically be recreated for you.
You may want to right click on the main key (above) and select Export. This will allow you to backup the contents of the whole key, including subkeys.
How to do a repair install
Configure your computer to start from the CD-
ROM drive. For more information about how to do this, please refer to your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer.
Insert your Windows XP compact disc (CD) into your CD-
ROM drive or DVD-
ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
(You can also boot with a Windows 98/Me Startup disk with CD support and run WINNT.EXE in the I386 folder on the CD)
When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
When you see the following message displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER:
To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
At this point an option to press R to enter the Recovery Console is displayed. Do not select this option.
On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press the R key to repair Windows XP.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup.