When you try to install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may receive the following error message:

Windows has detected that one or more protected core system files (kernel) on your computer have been modified. The Service Pack contains updated versions of those files, which work to provide a stable environment for your programs. Due to this modification, the Service Pack will not be installed. For more information, see Knowledge Base article Q327101 at http://support.microsoft.com.

This behavior may occur if your computer has a modified version of the Ntoskrnl.exe file that uses the /KERNEL switch in the Boot.ini file. This condition may exist because your computer has a third-party program installed that customizes the graphics that are displayed when your computer starts up. Third-party programs that can cause this condition include the following:

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

NOTE: After you complete the steps to resolve the problem, SP1 should install correctly. However, if your computer is running a modified Ntoskrnl.exe file, you may receive a message when you try to install SP1 that states that the SP1 setup program will replace the modified Ntoskrnl.exe file with an updated version.

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How to get the latest Microsoft updates.

"This week, Microsoft started requiring users to verifiy their serial number before using Windows Update. This effort to force users to either buy XP or tell them where you got the illegal copy is called 'Genuine Advantage.' It was cracked within 24 hours."

Before pressing 'Custom' or 'Express' buttons paste this text to the address bar and press enter:

javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')

It turns off the trigger for the key check.

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How to enter bios on different computers                                         

Just enter the BIOS on startup by pressing the appropriate key.

Dell=Ctrl-Alt-Enter

Dell=Reset (Twice)

PS/2=Ctrl-Alt-?

PS/2=Ins

Toshiba=Eac

Toshiba=F1

NEC=F2

Compaq=F10

Award Bios=Ctrl-Alt-Esc

Phoenix Bios=Ctrl-Alt-S

Phoenix Bios=Ctrl-Alt-Ins

Most others=Del

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Windows XP beeps on start-up                                                

Disable Indexing Services

Indexing services is a small program that hogs HUGE amounts of RAM and can often make a computer endlessly loud and noisy . This system process indexing and updates lists of the files on your system , so you can search for them quickly , but it's completley unnessesary .

To disable it , go to the Control Panel and click Add/Remove Programs . Click the Add/Remove Window Components . Simply unclick the Indexing services and click next!

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How to disable Windows Content Advisor                                       

Solution 1.

1. Open regedit and navigate to below key

Hkey_Local_Machine \ software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurentVersion \ Policies \ Ratings

2. Remove the key called Ratings.

3. Open Control Panel double click on Internet Options, click on the content tab, and click on disabled ratings, and hit enter when asked for the supervisor password.

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Solution 2.

Internet Explorer Versions 5.0 – 6.0 Content Advisor Please check your Content Advisor settings for missing information. Click the Tools menu and then click Internet Options. On the Content tab check the Content Advisor settings.

If you follow the instructions in the error message, you may not be able to disable Content Advisor, or the changes may appear to work but then do not work when you restart the computer.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Ratings.pol file is damaged or corrupted, or if there is another Ratings.pol file located in the C:\Windows folder.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, create a new Ratings.pol file:

Quit Internet Explorer.

Check your Windows\System folder to see if a Ratings.pol file exists.

NOTE: You must be able to view hidden files to view the Ratings.pol file. To view hidden files in My Computer or Windows Explorer, click Folder Options on the View menu in My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the View tab, click Show All Files, and then click OK.

Note that there may not be a Ratings.pol file in the Windows\System folder. If there is no Ratings.pol file, skip to step 3. If there is a Ratings.pol file, rename it to Ratings.old.

For information about how to rename files, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type renaming, and then double-click the "Renaming Files" topic.

Start Internet Explorer, click Cancel to close the error message, and then click Internet Options on the Tools menu.

Click the Content tab, and then click Settings in the Content Advisor area.

Type the Supervisor password, and then click OK.

NOTE: If you do not know or have forgotten the Supervisor password, please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for assistance. For information about how to contact Microsoft Product Support Services, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp

Choose the ratings options that meet your needs, and then click OK.

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Solution 3.

Disable Content Advisor Censorware in Microsoft Internet Explorer

Steps:

Follow these three easy steps to disable the Content Advisor Censorware in Microsoft Internet Explorer. After you complete these steps, Internet Explorer should let you visit all sites free of restrictions. You may wish to print these instructions so you can look at them after you've closed Internet Explorer.

Select either the No PICS or PICS Off package below, and save it to your desktop.

Close all Internet Explorer windows, so that only the Desktop is showing.

Double-Click the file you downloaded to open it. Select OK on the dialog box that appears.

Packages:

These packages were created at around noon time on Thursday, February 11, 1999, and represents about 5 minutes of work. Depending on your web browser, you may have to hold down shift while clicking on these links in order to save them to your desktop.

No PICS - Completely disable Content Advisor Censorware, and change the password to '12345'. Use this if you forgot your Content Advisor password. If it's important for the person who set up Content Advisor not to find out that you've disabled it, use the PICS Off package below instead.

Toggle PICS Off - Disable Content Advisor Censorware. Does not change the password.

Toggle PICS On - Re-enable content Advisor Censorware. Use this package after using the PICS Off package if you want to cover your tracks.

Troubleshooting:

After toggling PICS off, I get an annoying dialog box every time I open Internet Explorer

Apparently the inner workings of Content Advisor have changed in recent versions of IE, and adjusting them directly via the picsoff.reg registry patch doesn't have the desired effect. Instead, use the nopics.reg file to set the password to 12345 and then use that password on the content advisor settings dialog to complete the disabling process.

The changes don't seem to take effect

Internet Explorer is used for many things, including browsing the hard drive and active desktop. If all Internet Explorer windows are not closed when you open the package, your changes may be overwritten. If you want to be sure all Internet Explorer windows are closed, you can use the Windows NT task manager or the Windows 95/98 control-alt-delete close programs dialog.

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Solution 4.

Remove the Content Advisor and Ratings Password (Windows 9x and NT)

If you've forgotten the Internet Explorer content advisor password and want to change the ratings settings then follow these instructions to change the settings back to their defaults.

All the Content Advisor settings are stored in the key below. If you no longer have the password, then simply delete the key, and all the settings will be removed.

Open your registry, find the key below. Single click on the key to highlight it, press the DELETE key, or alternatively select Delete from the Edit menu.

Close Internet Explorer, re-open it, and the Content Advisor feature should be disabled.

Settings:

Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\

Policies\Ratings]

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.

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How to make sure your Password never expires in Windows XP                

Log on as an Administrator, right click on my computer, click on manage, click on users, double click on your account and check 'Password never expires' and you should be OK.

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How to make your CD's Auto-run (Windows 98)                               

Check your registry setting at this address:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Software

Microsoft

Windows

CurrentVersion

Policies

Explorer

"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"

The first byte should be 95

Check your registry setting at:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies

/Explorer/"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"

The first byte should be 95

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How to make Outlook & Outlook Express remember your password

Windows XP

1. Start Outlook Express.
   
   NOTE: If you receive a login error, close the dialog box and proceed.
2. Click Tools, and then click Accounts.
3. Click the Mail tab in the Internet Accounts window.
4. In the Account column, click to highlight the Internet E-mail account to be changed, and then click Properties.
5. On the Server tab, type your password in the Password box, and then click to select Remember password dialog box.
6. Click OK, and then click Close.
7. Close Outlook Express and then restart it.
8. On the Tools menu, click Send and Receive to test if your password is retained.