1. Administer the Windows Starting the Windows Contents Outline Windows Advanced Options Menu (Press F8 after computer s Power-On-Self-Test and before Windows starts). Some useful options: - Safe Mode - Safe Mode with Networking - Enable VGA Mode - Last Known Good Configuration - Start Windows Normally Startup files: BOOT.INI - stores the startup config of the Windows (NT, 2000, XP). - Hidden, Read Only and System files - Exist in the ROOT of bootable partition - BOOT.INI needed to modify after relocation of Windows - You can view or edit the BOOT.INI in Control Panel System Advanced Startup and Recovery Settings, or edit C:\BOOT.INI directly Example 1: A Typical BOOT.INI, a WinXP installed on the first HD, first partition. [boot loader] timeout=30 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 Example 2: This WinXP reside on the second HD, third partition [boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(3)\windows [operating systems] multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(3)\windows="microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect Example 3: WinXP and Win2000 installed on two separate partitions [boot loader] timeout=30 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 multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\winnt="microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect * Noted that multi, disk and rdisk count from 0, while partition count from 1. If you want to install two or more Windows in your computer, DON T install them into the same partition!
Systems Properties - Device Management - Advance: Performance, Startup and Recovery - System Recovery - Auto Update - Remote Windows Updates - Invoke in Internet Explorer or in Start Menu User account management - User Account in Control Panel - Administrators vs. Restricted user accounts - The first user (excluded the Administrator) must be administrator equivalent - Another tools Computer Management Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Local User and Group Users - Login to Administrator account while a Welcome Screen appears - Boot to Desktop directly with a specific password protected account: use control userpasswords2 Disk Quota and Security Permissions - Put restrictions on users - Available on NTFS file system only - Disk Quota: Hard limit and Soft limit - Turn off Simple file sharing for more secure sharing - Click on My Computer Drive Properties Securities and Quota tab - Assigning permissions to different users
2. Configure and Customize your Windows Desktop and Display customization: - Display in Control Panel, or right-click the desktop and select Properties * With third-party software such as StyleXP (www.tgtsoft.com), you can change the Theme, include the background, windows frame style, button, mouse cursor, of your Windows. Taskbar and Start Menu customization: - In Control Panel or by Start Button/Taskbar s property Internet Time (Time synchronization): - Open Control Panel Date and Time Internet Time - Enter stdtime.gov.hk or any Timeserver in your region Welcome Screen user account pictures: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures Change drive letter and path: - Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Select Disk Management - or Right-click on My computer and select manage Send To folders: - Transfer files to specific location rapidly - In C:\Documents and Settings\(USERNAME)\SendTo My Documents location: - Right-click on My Documents on Desktop and select properties - Enter a pathname in Target, or click on Move then select a location Folders options Firewall settings - How to change Firewall settings - Open exceptions for TC/IP or UDP ports - Change scope of open ports TweakUI from Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
3. Advanced Technique and Tricks Shortcut keys - Windows logo key: - + D : Show (Toggle) Desktop - + F : Find (Search) - + L : Lock users screen - + M : Minimize all windows - F1: Help - F5: Refresh - Alt + Tab: Switch tasks (between Windows) - Alt + F4: Close Window - Ctrl + + : Auto adjust column width Remote Desktop - Enabled in System Property: Right-click on My computer then select Properties, select Remote - Port must be opened in Firewall: Control Panel Windows Firewall Exceptions Tick on Remote Desktop - Remote users must have password - Available on Professional version only DirectX Diagnostic Tools: - Click Start, then enter dxdiag in Run - Or open Command Prompt in Accessories, then enter dxdiag - For the status and functionality of DirectX Display East Asian languages character - Control Panel Region and Langauge Options Install files for East Asian Languages Running Non-Unicode programs: - For programs designed for languages different from your Windows system e.g. You have a WindowsXP in Traditional Chinese but want to use a soft in Simplified Chinese - Control Panel Region and Langauge Options Advanced - Select a language in Language for non-unicode programs Password Reset Disk : - To protect user accounts in the event that the user forgets the password - Control Panel User Accounts Select an user click on Prevent a forgotten password - Restore password on Welcome Screen System Administrative Tools( 系 統 管 理 工 具 ): Event Viewer, Services, Performance, and Computer Management - Event Viewer: View log of Applications, Security and System - Services: Manage system services - Performance: Monitor system resources - Computer Management:
Task manager( 工 作 管 理 員 ) - Task manager: Run task (program), kill task, view resources related to tasks Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE) - Editor to edit the database containing the system (hardware and software) configuration, user account settings, and application settings - Use with extremely careful - Export and Import keys Disaster recovery - Use Windows Startup Menu or System Restore - Backup with third party software, e.g. Norton Ghost
4. Optimize the performance Optimization for System performance - Turn off unnecessary Visual Effects: Control Panel System Advanced Performance - Use simple User Interface Optimization for Disk performance - Disable content indexing on disk (NTFS only) My Computer Disk Drive Drive Properties Allow Indexing Service - Disk Defragmentation( 重 組 ): Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Disk Defragmenter - Defragmentation for system boot files: Start Run Enter defrag c: -b Other ways to improve performance: - Add memory - Remove unnecessary software - Some system parameters to optimize performance Startup and Shutdown, edit the following registry key by REGEDIT.EXE: - To speedup startup time, modifiy EnablePrefetcher value from 3 to 5 in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\Prefetch Parameters - To speedup shutdown time, modifiy WaitToKillServiceTimeout to 1000 in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WaitToKillServiceTimeout and WaitToKillAppTimeout to 1000, HungAppTimeout to 200 in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop System Monitor - Administrative Tools/Performance - Check system resources - For advanced user Too many background tasks - Check with Task manager,msconfig - Check Startup folder - Check Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run - Remove unnecessary tasks Beware of Spyware and Adware - Scan with spyware and ad ware removal tools - SpyScanner: http://www.spycleaner.net/ - Easy Erase Spyware Remover: http://www.easyerase.com/spywareremover/