Windows ME

1. How to use Restore in WinME
2. How to Restore the Registry Using the Command "scanreg /restore" in Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
3. Why does my modem attempt to connect to my Internet service provider (ISP) when Windows starts and how do I prevent this?
4. How to use MSCONFIG in WinME
5. How to delete old DOS configuration files
6. How to Clear the Startup Folder
7.  
8.  

A:

**Using System Restore**

1. Click on (Start,Programs, Accessories,System Tools, System Restore.)
2. Check the box for (Restore my computer to an earlier time)
3. Click Next.
4. Choose a (Restore Date.) before the problem started.
5. Click Next.
6. Click Next again.
7. The system should restore and reboot.

**System restore is enabled.**

1. Click on Start, Programs, Accesories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3. Make sure the option for (Turn off System Restore) is not checked.
4. If checked, take the check out of the box next to it.
5. Under (Disk Space Usage) make sure the slider bar is set to *Max*
6. Click APPLY and OK, and then restart the system.

**Create a Restore point**

1. Click on Start, All Programs, Accesories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on Create Restore Point, click Next.
3. Give the Restore Point a Name and click Create.
4. When done click closed.

**System restore disabled.**
Also use to purge your restore points.

1. Click on Start, Programs, Accesories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3. Make sure the option for (Turn off System Restore) is checked.
4. Do this for any additional hard drives you have.
5. Click APPLY and OK, and then restart the system.

**Limit/Change restore space**

1. Click on Start, Programs, Accesories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3. Click on the Settings Button.
4. Under the option for "Disk Space Usage" either increase or decrease the amount of space system restore should be allowed.
5. To save hard drive space, decrease the value.
   *Doing so will only keep a few restore points for use.
6. To have more restore points, increase the value.
   *Doing so will take up more of your hard drive space.
7. Once you are done, click Apply-OK, and reboot the system.

A: Discussion
If restoring the system with the System Restore utility is unsuccessful or you cannot use the utility, it may be possible to restore a backup copy of the registry using the command scanreg /restore.

For more information regarding System Restore in Windows Me, please refer to Dell Knowledge Base article: TT1037690 "How do I restore a previous system configuration using the System Restore utility in Microsoft® Windows® Millennium Edition (Me)?"

Solution
To restore a backup copy of the registry from with in the operating system, perform the following steps:
Click the Start button, click Run, and then type scanreg /restore in the Open box. Click OK.
The Registry Checker window appears.
Click Yes.
The Restore Registry window appears.
Click to highlight the most recent date your system was working properly.
Click OK.

To restore a backup copy of the registry from MS-DOS, perform the following steps:
Boot to the Dell Product Recovery CD for Windows Millennium Edition and select Start computer without CD-ROM support using the Up Arrow or Down Arrow keys and then press the Enter key.
The a: prompt appears.

NOTE: For more information on how to change the boot sequence in the BIOS to the CD-ROM as first boot device, refer to the following Dell Knowledge Base articles:
Dimension systems: TT1032262
OptiPlex systems: TT1035127
Latitude systems: TT1035156
Inspiron systems: TT1035144

Boot the system to a Windows startup disk.
Type c:\windows\command\scanreg /restore and press Enter.
The Microsoft Registry Checker screen appears.
Select a date before the problem started, using the Up or Down arrow keys and press Enter.
" The You have Restored a Good Registry window appears ".
Remove the floppy disk and restart the system.

A: Discussion
This behavior may occur for a variety of reasons. Some reasons that have been identified are:

You use a program that automatically checks for updated components or Web pages. Uninstall any applications installed just prior to this behavior occurring.

A program that dials your ISP is located in the StartUp folder. Check your Startup folder for possible applications that could cause this. One such program is CriticalUpdate. For more information, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: FA1011050.

Your computer is infected with a Trojan horse virus such as System32.exe that starts when you start your computer. Note that most anti-virus programs do not currently detect or remove Trojan horse viruses. Check for the latest information regarding this on the manufacturer''s Web site of your anti-virus software. If there is not an update, you suspect a virus, and the latest virus definition update does not help, you may need to reinstall the operating system.

Symantec WinFax or HotFax Message Center is installed on your computer. Try removing these applications following the application''s instructions.

You are using a Lexmark printer. The Lexmark printer software may add Lexstart.exe to the Run key in the registry to handle print commands that you send to the printer. This can cause Dial-Up Networking to prompt you to dial your ISP. Try removing the printer following the Lexmark instructions.

You are using Microsoft Personal Web Server 4.0, and the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC) service is being loaded from the StartUp folder. Try removing this from the Startup folder. For more information, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: FA1011050.

You have installed a Beta version of RealAudio 5 on your computer. Try uninstalling this application following the application''s instructions.
This behavior can occur if Internet Explorer is configured to connect using a modem, and Remote Connect is enabled. Refer to the Solution, below, to disable Remote Connect.

Solution

To prevent Dial-Up Networking (DUN) from trying to connect to the Internet automatically:

Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel
Double-click Dial-up Networking.
Click the Connection tab at the top of the screen.
Click the Settings option.
Click the radio button next to "do not prompt to use dial-up networking".
Then click Apply or Ok to exit out of that screen.
Reboot the computer.
DUN should not start with Windows or when you open a browser such as Internet Explorer.

If disabling DUN through Connection settings does not work, disable Remote Connect in the registry:

NOTICE: The following procedure contains information about editing the Windows registry. Dell does not guarantee success or support these actions. Any use of the information provided herein, is performed at your own risk. You should make a backup copy of the registry files prior to executing any of the following steps. Incorrect use of the registry editor and editing the registry files can cause serious problems that may require a complete reinstall of your operating system. Dell assumes no responsibility, expressed or implied, regarding the consequences of any action taken as a result of the information provided herein.

Click the Start button, click Run, and then type Regedit in the Open box. Click OK.
The Registry Editor window should appear.
Click the plus (+) sign next to each of the following keys:

HK_LOCAL_MACHINE
Software
Microsoft.
Click the OLE key to select it.
If the Data value for EnableRemoteConnect is "Y" then right-click EnableRemoteConnect.
Click Modify on the pop-up menu.
In the Value Data box, type N. Click OK.
Close the Registry Editor.
Click the Start button, click Shutdown, click Restart The Computer, and then click Yes.

The information contained in the above document consists of excerpts from Microsoft Knowledge Base. Any content editing was done for space considerations. Where possible, the document was left in its entirety. The technical information and troubleshooting described herein are for informational purposes only. For additional information or the complete document, please go to:

Article ID: Q175312 Title “Modem Attempts to Dial When Windows Starts”

A:

**Using MSCONFIG:**

Left-click on START | RUN.
Type in "msconfig" in the "Open" dialog box and left-click on "OK."
When the "System Configuration Utility" window appears, the "General" tab will be visible. Left-click on "Selective Startup."
Remove the check marks from each choice except "System.ini," by left clicking on the check marks.
Click the Startup tab.
Uncheck every entry except (SystemTray)
Left-click on "Apply" and then left-click on "OK."
A message will appear stating that "For the changes to take place, the system must be restarted." Left-click on the "OK" button, and the system will begin the restart.

If the problem stops, then use the following steps to isolate the program that is causing the problem. Repeat steps above, but instead of un-checking the entries, re-check one entry at a time until you have identified the category that is the cause of the problem. After you have isolated the application, utility, or device driver that is causing the problem, you will be able to proceed with further troubleshooting. One of the easiest methods to attempt a resolution is to reinstall the problematic application or device driver. The entry causing the problem can be left disabled if it does not affect system operation.

A: Search your hard drive for the following files and delete them.
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
-Delete "All" the files and folders in the ( C:\Windows\Temp ) folder.
Also search your hard drive for any *.TMP files and delete them.

A: Right click Start.
Click on Explorer.
The "Start Menu" window will open.
Click the " + " next to Start Menu.
Click the " + " next to Programs.
Double Click Startup.
The icons contained in the Startup folder appear in the right pane.
Click Edit and then click Select All.
All the icons in the Startup folder appear highlighted.
Place the mouse pointer on one of the icons, click and hold the mouse button down, and then drag the highlighted icons to the left pane over the Desktop icon.
The Desktop icon appears highlighted and the Startup folder icons appear outlined over the Desktop icon.
Release the mouse button.
The icons from the Startup folder are transferred to the Desktop and the Startup folder appears empty.
Close the window.
The Desktop reappears.
Click the Start button, click Shut Down, and click OK.
After your computer is turned off, turn it back on again and let Windows load.

A:

A:

Windows XP

1. HOW TO: Change File Associations in Windows XP
2. How to make a program run in XP Compatibility mode
3. How to use Windows XP MSCONFIG
4. How to use System Restore in WinXP
5. My system clock looses or gains time in Windows XP
6. How to Reinstall or Repair Outlook Express in Windows XP
7. WinXP will not to let you delete some AVI files. It may tell you that the file is currently in use.
8. How do I perform a Repair Reinstall of Microsoft Windows XP?
9. I leave my pc for a few minutes. When I come back, it has logged off and then I have to sign back in. Is there a switch or something that I can change that will not keep logging me off after a few minutes?
10. What is a Windows NT/2000/XP profile?
11. I am missing icons on my desktop and system tray. How do I get them back?
12. How to reinstall Windows Media Player 
13. When I log on or switch to another user the "SYSTEM32" window pops up. How do I stop this from happening?
14. How to clear the Windows XP startup menu.
15. How should I run CHKDSK in WinXP and what switches should I use?
16. How do I perform a Repair Reinstall of Microsoft Windows XP?
17.  
18.  
19.  

A: The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

How to Change File Associations
To See All File Extensions
To Change File Associations
How to Create File Association for Unassociated File Type

Summary:
You can specify that files with certain file name extensions are always opened in the same program. You can also modify an existing file type to change its association with a program. You can work with file associations in Windows Explorer or My Computer. This article describes how to change file associations in Windows XP.

How to Change File Associations:
You may want to change the association of a file extension from one program to another. For example, you may prefer to open text files (.txt) in you favorite word processor so you can format the text. By default, text files are associated with Notepad. Note that file extensions for known file types are hidden by default.

To See All File Extensions:
On the Tools menu in My Computer or Windows Explorer, click Folder Options.
Click the View tab.
Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.

To Change File Associations:
Right-click a file with the extension whose association you want to change, and then click Open With.
In the Open With dialog box, click the program in which you want the file to open, or click Browse to locate the program you want.
Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box.

How to Create File Association for Unassociated File Type:
You may want to create a file association for a file type that is not associated with a program in your computer. There are two common reasons for this action:
A program (often a database) produces file reports with extensions that are not registered in Windows XP.
You receive e-mail message attachments that are created in a program that is not installed on your computer, but there is an installed program that can read these files.

To create file association:
Right-click a file with the extension you want to change, and then click Open, or double-click the file.
Windows XP displays a dialog box that indicates that no program is associated with this file. The dialog box offers two choices for creating an association:
Use the Web service to find the appropriate program
Select the program from a list
Unless you want to find and download software that opens this file type, the best choice is to select the program from a list.

Windows displays a dialog box that displays programs that are installed on the computer. If the program you want to use for this file type is not listed, click Browse to locate the appropriate software. Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box.

A: Compatibility mode:

1. Right click on the file or icon that launches the program.
2. Click on properties.
3. Click on the Compatibility tab
4. Put a check mark in the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"
5. Choose either Win95 or Win98/ME.
6. Click Apply and OK.
7. You can also choose the features for "Run in 256 colors" and "Run in 640X480 resolution."

A: **Clearing the Startup Folder.**
Click on (Start,Programs,) Find the (Startup) folder, and right click the mouse button over it. You should get a small gray windows. Go down to "Explore" and left click on "Explore" You should get a "Startup" window that is split in two. High light and delete all the icons on the right hand side of the Window.

**Using MSCONFIG to stop all background programs.**
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type MSCONFIG, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility starts.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
Process SYSTEM.INI file
Process WIN.INI file
Load Startup Items

Then...
Click the Startup tab. Uncheck every entry. Left-click on "Apply" and then left-click on "OK." A message will appear stating that "For the changes to take place, the system must be restarted." Left-click on the "OK" button, and the system will begin the restart.

If the problem stops, you must then isolate the cause of it. Using MSCONFIG again, to back to the startup tab. Recheck one entry click Apply, OK, and reboot the system. Keep using this process until you find the entry that is causing the problem. Once you have found that entry, leave it unchecked and recheck everything else. Click Apply, Ok, and reboot the system for the last time. "Process of elimination"...

If having problems with an application or driver, it is best to try and reload the application or driver. If reloading the application or driver does not fix the problem, then you may want to leave it unchecked under the startup tab. You may also want to check and see if there is an updated version of that application or driver.

MSCONFIG can be used to stop all programs from loading at startup to free up system resources. The true intention of MSCONFIG is to be used as a troubleshooting tool to isolate programs that may be causing problems.

**Delete old dos/legacy configuration files.**
Search the system for these files, delete them.
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
-Delete "All" the files and folders in the ( C:\Windows\Temp ) and
( C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files ) folder.
Search the system for any ( *.TMP ) files, and delete them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To restore the computer to use a normal startup, start the System Configuration Utility, click the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services, click OK, and then click Restart.

A:

1. Click on (Start,Programs, Accessories,System Tools, System Restore.)
2. Check the box for (Restore my computer to an earlier time)
3. Click Next.
4. Choose a (Restore Date.) before the problem started.
5. Click Next.
6. Click Next again.
7. The system should restore and reboot.

**System restore is enabled.**

1. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3. Make sure the option for (Turn off System Restore) is not checked.
4. If checked, take the check out of the box next to it.
5. Under (Disk Space Usage) make sure the slider bar is set to *Max*
6. Click APPLY and OK, and then restart the system.

**Create a Restore point**

1. Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on Create Restore Point, click Next.
3. Give the Restore Point a Name and click Create.
4. When done click closed.

**System restore disabled.**

1. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3. Make sure the option for (Turn off System Restore) is checked.
4. Do this for any additional hard drives you have.
5. Click APPLY and OK, and then restart the system.

**Limit/Change restore space**

1. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on System Restore Settings, on the left hand side of the window.
3. Click on the Settings Button.
4. Under the option for "Disk Space Usage" either increase or decrease the amount of space system restore should be allowed.
5. To save hard drive space, decrease the value.
   *Doing so will only keep a few restore points for use.
6. To have more restore points, increase the value.
   *Doing so will take up more of your hard drive space.
7. Once you are done, click Apply-OK, and reboot the system.

A: Right-click your time display in the task tray and select Adjust Date/Time. On the Internet Time tab uncheck "Automatically synchronize with an Internet time server." This has restored accuracy to the clock's of most users with a problem.

There is also a patch you can download from the Dell files page.

A:
Method 1:
Use System File Checker.

1. Put your Windows XP reinstall CD in the system
2. Click Start, Run
3. Type in ( SFC /Scannow )
4. Click OK, and the system will start checking the system files.
5. If any errors are found the system will prompt you to replace these files.

Method 2:
Edit the registry to allow the installation of OE from the IE installer package. Outlook Express is integrated with IE and will be installed by the IE installer package.

1. Download the latest installer package for IE
2. Click Start, Run.
3. Type in REGEDIT and click OK.
4. Find the following Registry Key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
5. Right-click the IsInstalled (REG_DWORD) value, and then click Modify.
6. Change the "Value Data" setting from 0 to 1, and click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor, and then download and install Internet Explorer 6.

For information about how o download and install Internet Explorer 6, visit Microsoft's Web site.

A: There is a bug in WinXP that causes Explorer to read the entire contents of broken AVI files before allowing any access to them is caused by bad behavior of shmedia.dll. This bug can also cause WinXP not to let you delete some AVI files. It may tell you that the file is currently in use

Solution:

1. Create a system restore point in case of any problems, then proceed.
2. Click on Start, Run.
3. Type in "Regedit" and click OK.
4. Browse to the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489- 5FE6850DC73E}\InProcServer32
5. Delete the last registry entry ( InProcServer32 ).
6. Close the registry editor and restart the system.

Just an extra note, if you do a "search" for this key it will not be found, look for it manually it is very easy to find.

A: Warning* A repair install will wipe out all Microsoft updates and SP1. You need to have SP1 ready to reinstall after the repair install. You should also reinstall the Microsoft updates that you deem necessary.

Windows XP includes a new reinstall option, the Repair Reinstall. This option should be used when you have determined that the operating system files are corrupt, but you do not want to completely format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.

What a Repair Reinstall Will Do
Delete all of the files normally installed by Windows XP.
Reinstall those files from the Windows XP CD.

What a Repair Reinstall Will Not Do
Completely rebuild the registry. A Repair Reinstall only writes to parts of the registry used by Windows XP. It will not completely rebuild the registry.
Delete applications and user settings. A Repair Reinstall will generally leave applications and user settings in the state they were before the Repair was attempted. All applications should remain functional, and all user settings should remain the way they were.
Fix issues caused by corrupt applications or user settings. Since the Repair Reinstall does not affect user or application settings, it will not repair issue stemming from those settings being corrupt.
Solution

Performing a Repair Reinstall

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD or DVD drive.
2. Configure your system to boot to the CD drive.
3. Restart the computer.
4. When the computer prompts Press any key to boot from CD, press the (Spacebar).
5. The Welcome to Setup screen appears.
6. Press the (Enter) key to continue.
7. The system scans to see which hard drives are available.
8. When the license agreement screen appears, press the (F8) key to accept the license agreement.
9. You should now see: (C:\Windows ). Press F3 to quit, R to repair, ECS not to repair. You want to press R at this point. Windows will begin to load some files...asking you to please wait.
10. Setup will proceed with the installation sequence appropriate to the version of Windows XP being repaired. Once setup is complete, the system will restart.

A: Go to Start|Run, type control userpasswords2 and OK. On the User Accounts screen that opens, uncheck "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer." An Automatically Log On dialog box will appear. Enter your user name and password in the boxes provided and click OK. Your computer will now automatically load the profile for the user you named in that box.

A: Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP User Profile describes the configuration for a specific user, including the user's environment and preference settings. For example, those settings and configuration options specific to the user-such as installed applications, desktop icons, color options, and so forth-are contained in a User Profile. A profile also stores things like your email settings, shortcuts and/or files on your desktop, files cached by MS Internet Explorer, custom screen backgrounds that you use, some application settings, the location of your network home directory, and so forth.

To delete your User Profile:

1. Boot the system up to Windows Safe Mode.
2. Log in with the native Administrators account.
3. Right click on My Computer, click on properties.
4. Click on the advanced tab, then click on the Settings button for User Profiles.
5. Highlight the profile you wish to delete, click the delete button.
6. Reboot the system and log in with the user account to rebuild the profile.
   

A:

The Desktop Cleanup Wizard is enabled by default which removes icons after 60 days that you have not used.

1. Right click the desktop
2. Left click Properties
3. Click the tab Desktop
4. Click the button "Customize Desktop"
5. Remove the check from "Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard..."
6. Click OK-Apply-Ok

Taskbar icons disappear -

1. Right click the taskbar
2. Left click Properties
3. Insert a check to "Hide inactive icons"
4. Click Customize
5. Click Restore Defaults
6. Click OK
7. Remove the check from "Hide inactive icons"
8. Click Apply-OK

A: To remove Windows Media Player do the fallowing.

1. If you have upgraded Windows Media player, you can remove it from: (Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add and Remove Programs.)

2. To remove the Windows Media Player that is installed by default.
Click on,(Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add and Remove Programs.)
Then click on the "Windows Setup" tab.
Now find the icon for "Multimedia," highlight the icon, and then click
the "Details" button. You should get more icons.
Find the icon for "Media Player" and take the checkmark out of the
box next to it. The click, OK, APPLY, OK, and Windows should update
some files. When it is done, restart the system.

3. To reinstall Windows Media Player, simply repeat the steps above,
but this time put a check in the box next to Media Player.
Then click APPLY and OK. Windows will copy some file, and when it is done
reboot the system.

Visit this Microsoft web page for help on using and working with Windows Media player.

A: --Create a system restore point in case anything goes wrong.

1. Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.
2. Click on Create Restore Point, click Next.
3. Give the Restore Point a Name and click Create.
4. When done click closed.

--Then remove the registry entry.

1. Click on Start, Run.
2. Type in Regedit and click Ok
3. Browse to the following registry key:
   You can do so by double clicking on each folder icon.
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
4. Delete all the key entries in the "RUN" registry folder except the "Default" registry value. Make sure not to delete the "RUN" registry folder itself.
5. Close all open Windows and reboot the system.

Other programs may not load at startup after performing the steps above. To fix this do the following:

1. Copy the icon that launches the application you wish to load at startup.
2. Right click on Start, click on Explore.
3. On the left hand side, double click the Programs Folder, Startup Folder.
4. Paste the icon you copied into the left hand side of the screen.
   *Launcher icons placed in the STARTUP folder will load that application when Windows boots.

Further information:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Run and RunOnce Registry Keys

Run and RunOnce registry keys cause programs to run each time that a user logs on. The data value for a key is a command line. Register programs to run by adding entries of the form description-string=commandline. You can write multiple entries under a key. If more than one program is registered under any particular key, the order in which those programs run is indeterminate.

Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows .NET Server 2003 family registry includes the following four keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

Windows 95/98/ME registry includes the following seven keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup

By default, the value of a RunOnce key is deleted before the command line is run. You can prefix a RunOnce value name with an exclamation point (!) to defer deletion of the value until after the command runs. Without the exclamation point prefix, if the RunOnce operation fails the associated program will not be asked to run the next time you start the computer.

By default, these keys are ignored when the computer is started in Safe Mode. Starting with Windows NT 4.0 SP3, the value name of RunOnce keys can be prefixed with an asterisk (*) to force the program to run even in Safe mode.

A program run from any of these keys should not write to the key during its execution because this will interfere with the execution of other programs registered under the key. Applications should use the RunOnce or RunOnceServices keys only for transient conditions, such as to complete application setup. An application must not continually recreate entries under RunOnce or RunOnceServices because this will interfere with Windows Setup.

Run and RunOnce keys are run each time a new user logs in. RunServices and RunServicesOnce are run in the background when the logon dialog box first appears or at this stage of the boot process if there is no logon. These keys are for background services such as remote registry service and are run only once per boot. The Setup key is run only by Setup's first-boot activities, or after you use the Add/Remove Programs Wizard. This key displays the progress dialog box as the keys are run one at a time. For the Setup key, the name of the value is the name that is displayed in the dialog box.

A:

**Clearing the Startup Folder.**
Click on (Start,Programs,)
Find the (Startup) folder, and right click the mouse button over it.
You should get a small gray windows.
Go down to "Explore" and left click on "Explore"
You should get a "Startup" window that is split in two.
High light and delete all the icons on the right hand side of the Window.

**Using MSconfig to stop all background programs.**
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility starts.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
Process SYSTEM.INI file
Process WIN.INI file
Load Startup Items

Then...
Click the Startup tab.
Uncheck every entry.
Left-click on "Apply" and then left-click on "OK."
A message will appear stating that "For the changes to take place, the system must be restarted." Left-click on the "OK" button, and the system will begin the restart.

If the problem stops, you must then isolate the cause of it.
Using msconfig again, to back to the startup tab.
Recheck one entry click Apply, OK, and reboot the system.
Keep using this process until you find the entry that is causing the problem.
Once you have found that entry, leave it unchecked and recheck everything else.
Click Apply, Ok, and reboot the system for the last time.
"Process of elimination"...

If having problems with an application or driver, it is best to try and reload the application or driver. If reloading the application or driver does not fix the problem, then you may want to leave it unchecked under the startup tab. You may also want to check and see if there is an updated version of that application or driver.

Msconfig can be used to stop all programs from loading at startup to free up system resources. The true intention of MSconfig is to be used as a troubleshooting tool to isolate programs that may be causing problems.

**Delete old dos/legacy configuration files.**
Search the system for these files, delete them.
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
-Delete "All" the files and folders in the ( C:\Windows\Temp ) and
( C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files ) folder.
Search the system for any ( *.TMP ) files, and delete them.

A: There are several ways to run CHKDSK.

*Option 1:

1. Open My Computer.
2. Right click on the Hard drive, click Properties.
3. Click on the Tools Tab.
4. Under Error Checking click on Check Now.
5. Click the Start button to run Check Disk.
   Using choosing the options "Automaticaly fix files.... or Scan for and Attempt recovery... " you will get the following message:
   "The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained.
   Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
   Simply click on YES.

*Option 2:

1. Click on Start, Run.
2. Type in CHKDSK and press Enter.
3. Check Disk will run a very quick check of the drive.

*Option 3:
Complete Check:

1. Click on Start, Run.
2. Type in Command and click Ok.
3. Type in CHKDSK /F or /R and click Ok.
   You will get a message:
   "The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained.
   Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
4. Press Y for yes.
5. Close the command prompt and reboot the system.
   /F switch Fixes errors on the disk.
   /R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information, implies /F switch.

A: Information:
To try and fix problems with Windows corrupt files, please try using Windows SFC.

Solution:

1. Put your WindowsXP reinstall CD in the system.
2. Click Start, Run.
3. Type in ( SFC /Scannow )
4. Click OK, and the system will start checking the system files.
5. If any errors are found the system will prompt you to replace these files.
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Warning*
A repair install will wipe out all Microsoft updates and SP1.
You need to have SP1 ready to reinstall after the repair install.
You should also reinstall the Microsoft updates that you deem necessary.

How do I perform a Repair Reinstall of Microsoft Windows XP?

Discussion
Windows XP includes a new reinstall option, the Repair Reinstall. This option should be used when you have determined that the operating system files are corrupt, but you do not want to completely format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.

What a Repair Reinstall Will Not Do
Completely rebuild the registry. A Repair Reinstall only writes to parts of the registry used by Windows XP. It will not completely rebuild the registry.
Delete applications and user settings. A Repair Reinstall will generally leave applications and user settings in the state they were before the Repair was attempted. All applications should remain functional, and all user settings should remain the way they were.

Fix issues caused by corrupt applications or user settings. Since the Repair Reinstall does not affect user or application settings, it will not repair issue stemming from those settings being corrupt.
Solution

Performing a Repair Reinstall

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD or DVD drive.
2. Configure your system to boot to the CD drive.
3. Restart the computer.
4. When the computer prompts Press any key to boot from CD, press the (Spacebar).
5. The Welcome to Setup screen appears.
6. Press the (Enter) key to continue.
7. The system scans to see which hard drives are available.
8. When the license agreement screen appears, press the (F8) key to accept the license agreement.
9. You should now see: (C:\Windows )
   Press F3 to quit, R to repair, ECS not to repair.
   You want to press R at this point.
   Windows will begin to load some files...asking you to please wait.
10. Setup will proceed with the installation sequence appropriate to the version of Windows XP being repaired.
    Once setup is complete, the system will restart.

**To reinstall Windows XP updates**

Critical Updates/Security Updates:

1. Go to the Windows XP update site:
2. Click on Scan for Updates.
3. Click on Critical Updates and Service Packs on the left hand side.
4. Click on Review and install updates.
5. Complete the install of the updates.

Windows Updates:

1. Go to the Windows XP update site:
2. Click on Scan for Updates.
3. Click on Windows XP on the left hand side.
4. Click Add to any updates that you wish to add or install.
5. Click on Review and install updates.
6. Complete the install of the updates.

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A:

Windows 2000

1. How do I perform a Win2000 repair install?
2. How should I run CHKDSK or what switches should I use?
3. How to clear Win2000 Startup Environment
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
8.  

A:

1. Make sure CD-Rom is first Boot Device in your Bios
2. Insert your Windows 2000 CD
3. Once this is done boot up using CD-Rom Drive. ( When "Hit any Key to Boot From CD-Rom" appears on screen, hit any key on keyboard to invoke CD-Rom boot)
4. You will get a Windows 2000 setup screen, Press "R" to begin repair process.
5. On the next screen, Press "F" to begin the "Fast Repair" option.
6. On the next screen, if you have created the Emergency Repair Disks hit enter or press "L" if you do not have an ER-Disk.
7. Windows 2000 will now search for installs on your system
8. If you have only one install of Windows 2000 you will get different options. Press "ENTER" on your keyboard to continue. Or if there's more than one 2000 install, select the installation you wish to repair and then hit "ENTER"
9. Windows 2000 will now repair your system either from the Emergency Repair Disks (ERD) or from the CD, once done your system will reboot and hopefully everything will be working fine

Images of the 2000 repair install can be found on the following web page:
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/install/win2k/repairw2k/page1.htm

A: There are several ways to run CHKDSK.

*Option 1:
1.Open My Computer.
2.Right click on the Hard drive, click Properties.
3.Click on the Tools Tab.
4.Under Error Checking click on Check Now.
5.Click the Start button to run Check Disk.

Using choosing the options "Automatically fix files.... or Scan for and Attempt recovery... " you will get the following message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained. Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"

Simply click on YES.

*Option 2:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in CHKDSK and press Enter.
3.Check Disk will run a very quick check of the drive.

*Option 3:
Complete Check:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in Command and click Ok.
3.Type in CHKDSK /F or /R and click Ok.

You will get a message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained. Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"

4.Press Y for yes.
5.Close the command prompt and reboot the system.

/F switch Fixes errors on the disk.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information, implies /F switch.

BACK to Win2000

A:

1. Clear the Startup Environment.
2. Click on (Start,Programs)
3. Find the (Startup) folder, and right click the mouse button over it.
4. You should get a small gray windows.
5. Go down to "Explore" and left click on "Explore"
6. You should get a "Startup" window that is split in two.
7. High light and delete all the icons on the right hand side of the Window.
   **Do not empty your trash can after doing so.**
8. When you are done, reboot the system.

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Internet Explorer

1. Internet Explorer troubleshooting info:
2. How do I reset Internet Explorer back to it's default settings?
3. How do I reinstall or repair Internet Explorer?
4. IE makes a clicking noise when changing web pages. How do I get rid of it?
5.  
6.  
7.  

A:

"Page Cannot be Displayed" or "Timeout" Error Messages When Browsing the Internet (Q262264)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYMPTOMS
When you are connected to the Internet and you attempt to reach Web pages, you may experience the following behaviors:
You may receive "Page Cannot be Displayed" or "Request Timed Out" error messages while browsing in either Internet Explorer or other Web browsers. When you try to reach a Web site, the status bar at the bottom of the Internet Explorer window moves to the right (as if the Web page is loading correctly), but then it resets itself and repeats.

CAUSE
This behavior can occur if InternetBOOST '99 is installed and the settings are incorrect or the installation is damaged.

RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, uninstall InternetBOOST '99 and contact Bonzi software support for assistance. It appears that this web site is down to a class action litigation. To find out what is going on, visit the Bonzi Litigation Home Page.

The third-party contact information included in this article is provided to help you find the technical support you need. This contact information is subject to change without notice. Microsoft in no way guarantees the accuracy of this third-party contact information. The third-party products discussed in this article are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about troubleshooting other causes for the 'Page Cannot be Displayed' message, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q241344 Error Message: The Page Cannot Be Displayed

A:

1. Right click on the Internet Explorer icon.
2. Click on Properties.
3. Under the "General" tab, Temporary Internet Files Option, click the Delete Files button, and then click OK.
   Under the History option, click the Clear History button.
   **This will delete all web pages you have been to previously***
4. Under the "Security" tab, if applicable, click the Default Level button.
5. Under the "Programs" tab, click the Reset Web settings button.
6. Click the "Advanced" tab, click the Restore Defaults button.
7. Click the Apply or OK buttons.
8. Restart the system.

Clear out the Temporary folders:

1. Open My Computer, and the Windows folder.
2. Open the Temp folder under the Windows folder.
3. Delete everything that is listed in the Temp folder.
4. Go back to the Windows Folder.
5. Open the Temporary Internet Files folder.
6. Delete everything that is listed in the Temporary Internet Files folder.
7. Close all open Windows and reboot the system.

Delete installed Internet Explorer objects.

1. Right click on the Internet Explorer icon.
2. Click on Properties.
3. Under the "General" tab click the Settings button.
4. Click the View Objects button.
5. Click Edit, Select All, click File, Delete.
6. Close everything and reboot the system.

Check your INTERNET EXPLORER program settings.

1. Right click on INTERNET EXPLORER and click Properties.
2. Click on the Programs Tab.
3. You should have the following settings:
   -HTML editor...Microsoft Word for Windows.
   -E-mail...Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express.
   -Newsgroups...Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express.
   -Internet Call...Netmeeting.
   -Calendar...Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express.
   -Contact List...Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express.

A: Method 1: Use System File Checker.

1. Put your Windows XP reinstall CD in the system.
2. Click Start, Run.
3. Type in ( SFC /Scannow )
4. Click OK, and the system will start checking the system files.
5. If any errors are found the system will prompt you to replace these files.

Method 2: Edit the registry to allow the installation of INTERNET EXPLORER

1. Download the latest installer package for INTERNET EXPLORER
2. Click Start, Run.
3. Type in REGEDIT and click OK.
4. Find the following Registry Key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383}
5. Right-click the IsInstalled (REG_DWORD) value, and then click Modify.
6. Change the "Value Data" setting from 0 to 1, and click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor, and then download and install Internet Explorer 6.

Internet Explorer has been added to the Add/Remove Windows Components section of the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. This does not reinstall Internet Explorer.
For information about how o download and install Internet Explorer 6, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp

A: It is actually a "feature" for Internet Explorer. If you don't like the "click" sound, open up your Windows Control Panel, double click the "Sounds and Audio Devices" and then select the "Sounds" tab. Scroll down the "Program Events" box, until you encounter "Start Navigation" - select it. From the "Sounds:" drop down box, scroll all the way up and select "(None)" and you won't hear the click whenever you change web pages.

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Microsoft Office

1. How to detect and Repair Microsoft Office XP?
2. How can I convert Microsoft Works files to Office 97 format?
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  

A:

1. Run a Microsoft Office XP program, such as Word or PowerPoint.
2. Choose Help-->Detect and Repair. (You may have to click the double rightward-pointing arrow in the Help menu before you can see the Detect and Repair command.) The Detect and Repair dialog box appears. ( The Detect and Repair dialog box can help fix most problems you may have with Office XP.)
3. Click the check boxes to choose any options you want.
   The two options for repairing Microsoft Office include the following:
   --Restore my shortcuts while repairing: Makes sure any desktop shortcuts you may create continue pointing to the right programs and documents.
   --Discard my customized settings and restore default settings: Returns your copy of Office XP back to its original settings, wiping out any custom changes you may make to menus or toolbars.
4. Click Start.
   Follow the on-screen instructions as Microsoft Office XP valiantly tries to fix itself if it detects any problems. You may have to insert the Microsoft Office XP CD into your CD-ROM drive. Once the repair process is done, reboot the system and test.

A: (This information may also work for newer versions of Works and Office)

For all of those using Works and wanting to convert to Office, here are the appropriate steps and considerations.

First of all, when you want to convert, you must be sure of the type of type of file that you want to convert =>.wps files convert into Word, and .wdb files convert into Excel. It won't work the other way around, although, once in Office formats, you can use information from one Office program in another. Or so I've been led to believe..

--To convert Works .wps into Word .doc, do the following:
In works, open up the file that you want converted.
Go to FILE in the option menus on the top of your screen.
Choose SAVE AS
On the bottom part of the SAVE AS window, there is a box that says SAVE FILES AS TYPE.
Click on the button on the left hand side of that box
Scroll down, and choose WORD FOR WINDOWS 2.0
If you look at the name of the document, you'll notice that it changed to something with a .doc extension
Using the DRIVES and DIRECTORY boxes on the right, choose the location that you want to save to.
Choose the OK button on the far right.
At this point in time the document is saved in the Word format, and can be used immediately in Word.

--To convert Works .wdb into Excel .xl do the following:
The steps are much the same as above, except you save as type TEXT AND TABS (DOS)
The extension should change into a .txt
Once you hit OK a message will appear telling you that you will lose all formatting (i.e. bold, italic, etc).
Hit YES.
Start Excel.
As above, choose FILE.
Choose OPEN.
In the FILES OF TYPE box (in the lower left hand corner of that window), hit the button.
Scroll down and choose TEXT FILES.
The document you just saved should appear.
Click on that file to highlight it.
Choose OPEN on the right of the window.
A window will open.
Hit NEXT.
Another window will open talking about delimiters.
Hit NEXT.
Another window will open.
Choose FINISH.
The file will now be in Excel.
When you close the program, a dialogue box telling you that this program has not been saved in the Excel format will appear, and will ask you if you want to save it in that format now. Choose YES.

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BACK to MS Office

General

1. How to use ZZTOP - This applies to Dell Computers only
2. How do I find my system configuration or specs on the Dell Web page?
3. How do I troubleshoot a "No Post, No Video" situation on my Dell Portable system?
4. SMART (hard drive) errors
5.  
6.  

A: If you need to, you can restore your original factory downloaded software, this will erase the hard drive -- your personal files will be lost if not backed up. Make sure and remove any third-party hardware.

You should have a disk called "Dell storage diagnostics" or "Hard Drive Diagnostics and Utilities". If so, place that in the drive and restart the system to boot to it. On the menu, once again choose to exit to dos.
You can also use a Windows 98 boot disk, or just restart your system in
"MS Dos Mode". What your are trying to do is get to a "Dos" prompt.

Once you have made it to the C:\ dos prompt.
Type in the following line:
zz -zzload -sure

Your factory download will now be restored as it was when it was first shipped to you.
The program will check the ZZTOP image to make sure it is intact.
If the ZZTOP program "Fails the Image Integrity Check"
you will have to reload all the software manually.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>
How Do I Use the Dell Dimension Resource CD To Run ZZTOP If SnapRestore Has Been Erased From the Hard Drive?

Problem: You need to run ZZTOP, but the hard drive has been reformatted and ZZTOP will not run (to launch SnapRestore) from the command line. Running ZZTOP would save time by avoiding a manual installation of Windows and drivers.

Solution: NOTE: For Dell Dimension Resource CD v1.67, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Document HO 1026568.

If the ZZTOP image has not been corrupted, there is a way to access ZZTOP using the Resource CD. Use the following procedure to create a ZZTOP diskette:

Set the boot sequence in the System Setup to boot from the ATAPI CD-ROM drive.
For information on entering the System Setup, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Document 1012573.
Restart the system with the Dell Dimension Resource CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Insert a blank diskette into the floppy drive.
At the DOS prompt, type the following commands:

[Drive:]\HDDUTIL\ZZTOP [Enter]
ZZ-DOS B: [Enter]
B: [Enter]
ZZTOP [Enter]
where [Drive:] is the drive letter of CD-ROM drive and [Enter] is to press the Enter key once.

NOTE: B: is the drive letter of the floppy drive when booting to the CD-ROM drive.

SnapRestore should launch.
For information on running SnapRestore, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Document FA1018875.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>
ZZTOP Frequently Asked Questions.

What is the difference between FAT16 and FAT32?
The primary difference between FAT16 and FAT32 is the addressing of the drive space. A FAT16 drive uses 16 bits to address the data. This limits the maximum partition size to 2.1Gigabytes (GB). A FAT32 drive can address up to 4 Terabytes (TB) in a single partition. ZZTOP will restore both FAT16 and FAT32; however, when booting the system, a DOS 7.0 (Win 95 or Win 98) floppy should be used. DOS 7.0 recognizes both FAT16 and FAT32; DOS 6.22 and lower only recognize FAT 16.

What if the system is using NTFS?

When most systems are shipped from the Dell factory with NTFS, they will have a 2.1GB FAT16 partition at the beginning of the drive to accommodate our factory download process. To restore the ZZTOP image, simply follow the steps outlined in the ZZTOP usage flowchart. If the entire drive has been converted to NTFS, the ZZTOP image will not be restorable. You may be able to dispatch an STM CD; refer to PP1022497 and PP1017265 for the proper STM procedures.

What if the system has been upgraded from Win 95 to Win 98?

If the system was shipped with Windows 95 and then upgraded to Windows 98, running ZZTOP will restore the Windows 95 download. If the system was upgraded to Windows 98 and the drive converted to FAT32, ZZTOP may produce an error. If an error occurs, refer to AL1009913. In most cases, the original FAT 16 partitions from the factory download will be restored by the ZZTOP image.

Should I run a debug script to erase the hard disk?

The DOS partition removal debug script (TT1011054) should not damage an intact ZZTOP image. The NON-DOS partition removal debug script (FA1013319) will destroy the ZZTOP image. The CLEAN1K (TA1027380 or FA1026413) utility is preferable to the partition removal debug script and should not damage an intact ZZTOP image.

How can I tell what version of MS-DOS is running?

Typing ver [Enter] at a command prompt will return the DOS version. For DOS 6.22 or lower, the system will return the version of DOS installed. For Windows 95 and 98, the system will return a version similar to the example below:

Windows 95 [version 4.00.1111]
Windows 98 [version 4.10.1998]
NOTE: Windows 95 and 98 are considered DOS 7.0 and support both FAT32 and FAT16.

What if the system is an Optiplex computer running FAT32?

Since the Optiplex line is not shipped with the Hard Drive Diagnostics and Utility Diskette, it may be necessary to create a DOS 7.0 bootable diskette. Use one of the following procedures to create a bootable diskette:

DOS Method

From the command prompt, type CD C:\windows\command [Enter].
Type sys a: [Enter].
Windows Method

Insert a blank formatted diskette in the floppy drive.
Double-click on My Computer.
Right-click on 3-½ floppy drive and choose Format from the menu.
Click the radio button next to Copy system files only.
Click on Start to begin.
After booting to the floppy diskette, type C: [Enter] to switch to the hard drive. ZZTOP can then be run by typing ZZTOP.

A: It is best you have a service tag number for the system you need the configuration information for. You can still get the system configuration without a service tag number, but you need to have access to the system.

Procedure 1: (You have access to the service tag number or the actual system)
Log on to the system you need the configuration information for.
Go to Dell's Support Web Site
Put in your service tag number, or pick a system from the "Product/System Type" drop down menu.
Then click on "Sign in to standard support"
On the next screen click on "Configuration"
Then click on "Yes I Agree"
Your system will be scanned for its hardware configuration and it should be shown to you.

Procedure 2: (You have access to the service tag number, but not the actual system)
Go to Dell's Support Web Site
On the left hand side, under "My Account" click on "Log In"
If you have not already created an account, put in your information and click on "Create an Account".
Then fill out the rest of the requested information and click on "Create Account"
Once you have done that, go back to the main support web page and click on "Log In"
Put in your e-mail address and password, and click on "Log into my account".
Once you have logged in, click on the "Warranty" button on the left hand side.
Then click on "System as shipped new" to get the system configuration.
-Note: To check on another system tag do the following:
Click on "Manage my systems"
Enter the new service tag number and click "Submit"
Click the radio button next to the new service tag number.
Click on "Warranty" on the left hand side.
Then click on "System as shipped new" to get the configuration info.

A: Use the following information to troubleshoot a "No Post" situation.

1) Review the following Dell troubleshooting articles and perform the recommended troubleshooting steps: What can I do when my Dell Inspiron or Latitude portable system will not power on? - Document Number FA1017415.

2) Try the reset button if your system has one. Many Dell portable systems have a reset button. Make sure the AC adapter and battery are in the system. Then try pressing the reset button, and then booting up the system. The following link has information on the reset button. What can I do when my Dell Inspiron or Latitude portable system will not power on? - Document Number FA1017415.

3) Disconnect all external device and undock the system. Then try to boot up to see if one of those devices was causing the problem.

4) Remove All Customer Removable Units (CRUs).
-Remove the battery.
-Remove any CDROM or floppy drives.
-Remove the hard drive.
-Remove any PCMCIA cards.
-Remove all memory modules.
Then Reseat one memory module back into the system. (Portable systems require at least one memory module to boot up)
Have the AC adapter plugged into the system and try to boot up.
-If the system does not boot, then remove the memory module and seat it in the second memory slot. Does the system boot now?
-If the system does not boot again, the memory module A could have gone bad, now try the same steps with the memory module B. Does the system boot with the other memory module?

5) Test with AC Adapter Power.
Try booting up the system with only the AC adapter and no battery. Some AC adapters have a power indicator light. Does the power indicator light on the AC Adapter come on? Try another AC Adapter if you have one available.

6) Try another electrical outlet. Your electrical outlet may be causing the problem, try another outlet to verify this. Or, try another electrical device on the
same outlet to verify it is working.

7) Test with Battery Power. Remove the AC Adapter and try to boot up the system with only the battery. Try another battery if you have one available.

8) Check the power indicator lights or system lights if possible. The lights on your system can provide an indication of the possible cause of the problem. Check the system documentation to see if you can isolate the problem using the indicator lights.

-For information on what the indicator lights mean:
Go to Dell's main support page
Sign in with your service tag number.
Click on "Documentation"
Click on "Jumpers, switches, controls, and indicators" or "Documentation" or "Solving Problems".

9) Other steps to verify or try:
-Press CAPS lock, NUM lock and SCROLL lock key. Do the respective lights turn on?
-Press [Fn][F8] several times. Are you able to view anything on the LCD?
-Connect an external monitor and press [Fn][F8]. Are you able to view the display on the external monitor?

10) If all else fails, contact Dell Technical Support.

A:

What is S.M.A.R.T technology?
Reliability prediction technology is a way to anticipate the failure of a disc drive with sufficient notice to allow a system, or user, to back up data prior to a drive's failure. S.M.A.R.T. is reliability prediction technology for both ATA/IDE and SCSI environments. Pioneered by Compaq, S.M.A.R.T. is under continued development by the top five disc drive manufacturers in the world: Seagate Technology Inc., IBM, Conner Peripherals Inc., Western Digital Corporation, and Quantum Corporation.

How does S.M.A.R.T work?
S.M.A.R.T. technology include a series of attributes, or diagnostics, chosen specifically for each individual drive model. Attribute individualism is important because drive architectures vary from model to model. Attributes and thresholds that detect failure for one model may not be functional for another model.

When would I get a S.M.A.R.T error?
When you hard disk exceeds the specific thresholds set for it in the S.M.A.R.T diagnostics, you will get a S.M.A.R.T error.

Does the S.M.A.R.T error mean by HD is going bad?
Yes and NO.
A S.M.A.R.T error can indicate that the HD is going bad, but a "false" S.M.A.R.T error can also be produces if your HD exceeds the preset thresholds in the S.M.A.R.T diagnostics for that specific HD.
Newer HDs may also cause a S.M.A.R.T error if preset thresholds are older then what the HD can actually handle, or the S.M.A.R.T diagnostics does not have thresholds for the new HD.
Remember: S.M.A.R.T works by a series of preset thresholds for particular HD models.

What should I do if I get a S.M.A.R.T error or "false" S.M.A.R.T error?
Follow basic troubleshooting steps for IDE devices.

1. Take into account the history of the hard drive, has it given you problems before?
2. Is the hard drive new or not? If it is new, it is more then likely a "false" S.M.A.R.T error.
3. Troubleshoot the IDE cables, IDE controllers, Bios settings, Hard drive, and other IDE configuration settings.
4. Run several diagnostic programs on the hard drive to verify whether it is bad or not.
   Dell has the 90/90 HD diagnostics to verify whether the HD is bad or not.
   HD manufacturers also have their own diagnostics programs you can use.

How can I solve a "false" S.M.A.R.T error?
The only way to solve a false error is with a patch or update for the preset S.M.A.R.T thresholds.
Check with the drive manufacturer or the OEM manufacturer to see if there are any patches or updated for that particular HD.
If there are no patches or updates, and you know the HD is working well, you can simply ignore the S.M.A.R.T error.

Additional info:
You can learn more about S.M.A.R.T on the following sites:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document_print.asp?DN=FA1012192
http://www.drivehealth.com/smart.html

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Roxio Software Products

1. Steps to Creating a Compilation disk using Easy CD Creator 5 Basic
2. Steps to Creating an Audio disk using Easy CD Creator 5 Basic
3. Steps to Creating a Data disk using Easy CD Creator 5 Basic
4. Steps to using DirectCD
5.  
6.  
7.  

A:

1. Launch the Music CD Project within the Project Selector.
2. Wait for the program to initialize, and now you should have an Untitled Music CD Project layout.
3. Insert you CD you want to record from, into your drive. Now select your drive letter where the CD was inserted. You can do this by clicking on the drop down menu where it says, “Select your Source files”.
4. Once you have your audio files listed. Right Click on the Track you want to record and select “Convert to Audio file”. A dialog box should come up and ask you where you would like to save the file. Select a folder that you’ll remember.
5. Do this to all the audio tracks from each CD that you want to record. When you have finished converting all your audio tracks browse to the folder where the audio files are stored.
6. Now you should have all your tracks listed. Now drag and drop all your audio files to the bottom of the layout. You can also highlight the file and click Add. But be sure not to exceed the amount available on your CDR disk. The blue bar at the bottom will tell you how much available space you have left on your CDR disk.
7. Insert a blank CDR disk and click on “Record”.
8. A Record CD Setup dialog will come up. Click on options on the bottom right hand corner. This will give you your options on how you would like to record your disk. We recommend using the Disk-At-Once option for audio, and Track-At-Once for data.
9. Once you have everything selected click on “Start Recording”.
10. Now the recording process should start, and when its finished your CD will be ready to play in all CD players.
    

A:

1. Launch the Music CD Project within the Project Selector.
2. Wait for the program to initialize, and now you should have an Untitled Music CD Project layout.
3. Browse to the location of your audio files. You can do this by clicking on the drop down menu where it says, “Select your Source files”. Now locate the folder where your files are located.
4. Once you have your audio files listed. Click and drag the files to the bottom of the layout, or you can highlight the audio file then click on “Add”.
5. Do this to all the audio files that you want to record. But be sure not to exceed the amount available on your CDR disk. The blue bar at the bottom will tell you how much available space you have left on your CDR disk.
6. Now that you have all your tracks selected, insert your CDR disk into your CDRW drive.
7. Click on “Record”.
8. A Record CD Setup dialog will come up. Click on options on the bottom right hand corner. This will give you your options on how you would like to record your disk. We recommend using the Disk-At-Once option for audio, and Track-At-Once for data.
9. Once you have everything selected click on “Start Recording”.
10. Now the recording process should start, and when its finished your CD will be ready to play in all CD players.

A:

1. 1.Launch the Data CD Project within the Project Selector.
2. Wait for the program to initialize, and now you should have an Untitled Data CD Project layout.
3. Browse to the location of your Data files. You can do this by clicking on the drop down menu where it says, “Select your Source files”. Now locate the folder where your files are located.
4. Once you have your Data files listed. Click and drag the files to the bottom right of the layout, or you can highlight the audio file then click on “Add”.
5. Do this to all the Data files that you want to record. But be sure not to exceed the amount available on your CDR/CDRW disk. The blue bar at the bottom will tell you how much space available space you have left on your CDR/CDRW disk.
6. Now that you have all your Data files selected, insert your CDR/CDRW disk into your CDRW drive.
7. Click on “Record”.
8. A Record CD Setup dialog will come up. Click on “Options” on the bottom right hand corner. This will give you your options on how you would like to record your disk. Use the Disk-At-Once option if you want to finalize the disk, and you do not want to add anything else to the disk. Use the Track-At-Once feature if you want to burn something now and then some more files at a later time. But make sure when you use the Track-At-Once option, you have it set at “Finalize Session, Don’t Finalize CD”. The “Finalize CD” option is for when you want to close your disk.
9. Once you have everything selected click on “Start Recording”.
10. Now the recording process should start, and when its finished your CD will be ready to be read by all CD-Rom drives.

A:

1. 1.Launch the DirectCD for the Project Selector.
2. Now a DirectCD Format Utility will come up.
3. Insert your CDR/CDRW disk into your CDRW drive.
4. Click on Format CD.
5. Now just wait till the format process is finished. After its finished it will let you know that the disk is Ready for Read Write Access.
6. At this point go into Windows Explorer or My Computer.
7. Now you can drag and drop all the files you want to copy directly to the CDRW drive. You can also use Cut, Copy, and Paste.
8. Once you have all the files that you want on the disk, you can now eject the disk. Once you click on the eject button on the CDRW drive you should get a “Close Options” dialog box.
9. Within the Close Dialog box you should have an option to “Close to Read on Any Computer”. This does exactly what it says. The other option you will have is to close to UDF v1.5. This will allow you to come back at a later time to add more files to the disk. But this disk can only be read by the CDRW drive that it has been created on. That is until you close the disk to read on any computer.
10. These are the basic steps to creating a DirectCD disk. Also within the DirectCD Format Utility you will also have the options to erase a CDRW disk, Scandisk to fix any errors on your disk, and Undelete.

A: **This also works for data cd's.**

1. Put the source CD in your CDROM drive.
2. Put a blank CD in your CDRW drive.
3. Click the Start button.
4. Point to Programs.
5. Click Roxio Easy CD Creator.
6. Click Project Selector.
7. The Easy CD Creator Project Selector window appears.
8. Click Make a Music CD.
9. Click Music CD Project.
10. An Untitled Music CD Project appears.
11. Add the music tracks and audio files that you want to record to the music CD project.

**The source Window is the drive the original cd is in.**
**Will be listed as (Select Source Files)**
**The Music Project Window, is the blank CDRW CD.**


To see a picture of this, please visit this web page.

NOTE: You can add any combination of music tracks, WAV, MP3, or WMA files to a music CD project. Up to 99 tracks and files, or up to 650 MB (74-minute CD) or 700 MB (80-minute CD) of tracks and files can be added to a music CD project.
For more information on adding music tracks and audio files using Roxio Easy CD Creator 5, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article:
RA1048978 — "How do I add source tracks and files to a Music CD Project in Roxio Easy CD Creator 5?"

12. Click Record.
13. The Record CD Setup window appears.
14. Click Start Recording.
15. Easy CD Creator begins copying the songs listed on the source CD to a blank CD and displays a Record CD Progress window showing the progress of the recording session.
16. When the CD is finished; a final window appears notifying you that the copying is complete.

For additional information on copying CDs, open Easy CD Creator and then click on Help.

A:

A:

Outlook Express

1. How to Reinstall or Repair Outlook Express in Windows XP
2. How to backup Outlook Express folders
3. My Spell Checker in Outlook Express does not work? How do I fix it?
4.  
5.  
6.  

A:
Method 1:
Use System File Checker.

1. Put your Windows XP reinstall CD in the system
2. Click Start, Run
3. Type in ( SFC /Scannow )
4. Click OK, and the system will start checking the system files.
5. If any errors are found the system will prompt you to replace these files.

Method 2:
Edit the registry to allow the installation of OE from the IE installer package. Outlook Express is integrated with IE and will be installed by the IE installer package.

1. Download the latest installer package for IE
2. Click Start, Run.
3. Type in REGEDIT and click OK.
4. Find the following Registry Key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
5. Right-click the IsInstalled (REG_DWORD) value, and then click Modify.
6. Change the "Value Data" setting from 0 to 1, and click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor, and then download and install Internet Explorer 6.

For information about how o download and install Internet Explorer 6, visit Microsoft's Web site.

A: At the time of writing Outlook Express 5 stores folders in .DBX files.

To backup up these files:

1) Make sure Outlook Express is NOT running.

2) Locate the Outlook Express directory or directories that contain the .DBX files.

On my installation of Windows NT this directory is located at something like:

C:\WINNT\Profiles\my-user-name\Application Data\Identities\{EDBEF.....}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

On Windows 95/98 I think you can find them somewhere under:

C:\Windows\Application Data\...

Note: There may be multiple such directories if you have multiple identities.

Another (perhaps easier) way to do this was sent in my Marc Zavadil. [thanks Marc]

How to search your computer for .DBX files
Now In the past I've only backed up one directory. But I had a message from someone using Windows 2000 that recommends backing up all such directories because for him both the Win95 and WinNT directories were present and it was not clear which had the correct data. [thanks Wayne]

The rest of the document will refer to a singular directory, but you should modify the instructions for your needs.

3) Backup the directory - or just the .DBX files you want.

Note where you got the files from.

Restoring Outlook Express Folders
Outlook Express seems to keep track of what folders are being used. So you can only restore .DBX file if Outlook already has one of the same name. Unfortunately I don't know where it kee