For the last resort (when the drive really did die, it-is-not-even-spinning type crashes), there is a possible solution that comes from the early days of hard drives. Back then you were not supposed to turn them off—I don’t know why but IBM said never turn them off unless you are standing there.
One of our main […]
You cannot customize the default icon for a folder in Windows; however, you can make a shortcut to a folder and change the look of the shortcut icon. To make a shortcut to a folder and change the look of the shortcut icon:
• Open My Computer and browse to the folder that you want.
• […]
This article describes how to change the column settings in Windows Explorer. To change which columns are displayed, or change the width or order of the windows and folders in Windows Explorer:
• In Windows Explorer, click the folder, and then click Choose Details on the View menu.
• Click to select the check box of […]
This article describes how to automatically log on a user account during the Windows startup process. Note: This process only works if the computer is not joined to a domain.
Requirements
• The Welcome screen must be available.
• Guest account access must be turned off.
• There must be only one user account on the computer.
• The […]
• Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer.
• Press and hold down the Ctrl-key while you are clicking files.
• After you select the files, press F2.
• Type the new name, and then press ENTER.
Note: When you complete the preceding steps, the highlighted state of all files except one disappears, so it […]
Symptoms
After you choose to start Windows from the Boot menu, you may experience a long delay (or pause) before your computer finishes starting. Note that this delay may range from 10 seconds to a minute. Also, this delay occurs before the Starting Windows progress bar appears, and your computer may appear to stop responding […]
Disable Error Reporting You can get rid of the Windows XP error report messages if you don’t want to send another one in.
• Click Start, and then click Run.
• Type msconfig to open the System Configuration Utility.
• Click the Services tab.
• Clear the Error Reporting Service check box, and then click OK.
• Hit Restart […]
If you have any AVI files that you saved in Windows 9x, which have interference when opened in Windows XP, there is an easy fix to get rid of the interference:
• Open Windows Movie Maker.
• Click View and then click Options.
• Click in the box to remove the check mark beside Automatically create […]
Symptoms
After you install Microsoft Windows XP, hard disk performance may be slower than you expect.
Note: Hard disk performance may be even slower when your computer performs many small hard disk read/write operations.
Cause
This behavior may occur in the following situation:
You use Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) hard disks in the computer. -And-
The hard disks […]
Well, I won’t start playing with your specific situation, too many steps or possible solutions where everything starts “If that last thing didn’t work try…”
But I’ll give you one for free that was a nice hero moment for me. Had a drive where it sounded like the drive motor was engaging but not getting anywhere, […]