README: Windows 2000/NT/XP Frequently Asked Questions

[Statica]

Windows XP FAQ Section

These are queries that have been asked numerous times over the course of this forum. For speedy resolutions to your issues go through this thread:



<A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36319#INSTALL" TARGET="_self">Installation</A> | <A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36319#FILESYSTEM" TARGET="_self">Filesystems</A> | <A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36319#SOFTWARE" TARGET="_self">XP Software</A> | <A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36319#ERRORS" TARGET="_self">Errors</A> | <A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=230244#post230244" TARGET="_self">How to submit a FAQ</A> | <A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=234678#post234678" TARGET="_self">Thank you-s</A> | <A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=369737#post369737" TARGET="_self">Thread closures</A>





<HR>
<B><A NAME="INSTALL">Installation FAQ</A></B>


Q: What is WPA (Windows Product Activation)? Do I need to call Microsoft everytime I change the hardware on my system?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30059

Q: How do I dual boot between Windows ME & Windows XP?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33871

Q: How do I dual boot between Windows 98 & Windows XP?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33269

Q: How do I add Win9x - WinME to an existing Windows XP System?
A: By reading the HPro FAQ http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?threadid=24831

Q: ..just upgraded to XP and all my games run slow! I'm only getting 60 FPS .. got a fix?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32302

Q: What startup services can I terminate in Windows 2000/XP?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34999

Q: What is the difference between XP <font color="maroon">Professional</font> and <font color="maroon">Home</font> edition (other than the extra $$)?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44659

<!---------------------- insert INSTALLATION Q's above-------->

<HR>
<b><A NAME="FILESYSTEM">Filesystems FAQ</A></B>

Q: FAT32 or NTFS?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25279

Q: FAT32 or NTFS for dualboots?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28122

Q: How do I convert FAT32 to NTFS on 2K or XP without reformat?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35720

<!---------------------- insert FILESYSTEM Q's above-------->

<HR>
<b><A NAME="SOFTWARE">3rd Party Software</A></b>


Q: How do I remove MSN Messenger?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31419

Q: Where is msconfig?
A: For 2K - http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32863
A: For XP - http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36222


<!---------------------- insert SOFTWARE Q's above-------->
<HR>
<b><A NAME="ERRORS">Windows XP Error Section</A></b>

Q: How do people here deal with INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE errors?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36046
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19275
Q: What to do if you get an error message about RPC?
A: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72117


<!---------------------- insert ERROR Q's above-------->

[Statica]

If you've got questions you would like placed here, please <A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/private.php?s=&action=newmessage&userid=1339"><IMG SRC="http://forum.pcmech.com/images/sendpm.gif" BORDER=0> me</A> or any moderator in the following format

Q: the question u would like placed
A: the URL of the answer preferably posted here, but a popular offsite link would work as well

Thanx for your help and making this forum the best one on the net.

[Statica]

Would like to thank all of you who have contributed to the forum over time, and for those that have come up with suggestions to add onto this FAQ. It is your links and information that have been put up here for all to benefit from.

[Statica]

These are some of the common reasons why moderators may close threads. Somehow, there seems to be more of an occurence of this in the Win2k/XP forums than elsewhere, probably because of the increasing stress (by software developers) on antipiracy measures, such as Windows Product Activation etc. <i>or</i> it could be as a result of asking for information that might compromise security.

There have been many times when users have asked questions that have hardly anything to do with hacking or cracking, but must be closed in the best interests of the board; and so this has been provided as an outline.

Your thread may be closed here, because of one of the following reasons:
1) Your thread deals with disabling or circumventing Product Activation / Registration features
<I>example - I am installing Office XP again after a fresh format and with new hardware, is there any way to prevent my computer from reactivation?</i>
2) Your thread deals with replacing serial numbers or acquiring new serial numbers - <b>beyond the scope of the information that Microsoft or the s/w developer has shared as public knowledge</b>
<i>example - is there any registry key to replace a serial number of Microsoft Project 2002</i>
3) Your thread deals with password recovery for administrator accounts and you may or may not the administrator. Obviously we have no way of knowing whether you are an administrator trying to recover from one of your users changing your password on you, or whether you are the kid who wants to acquire the administrator password of the computer at school - either way, if you are an administrator, we hope that you have been conscientious in creating password recovery disks
4) You lost your media/CD key/serial number etc. etc. and would like an alternate one - again, we have no way of knowing the truth, so all we can offer you is a sympathetic gesture.

Please consult the <A HREF="http://forum.pcmech.com/misc.php?s=s=&action=faq">FAQ</A> for any forum wide violations that might have occured, but have not been specifically dealt with here.

What you can do:
1) You could try activating the product as usual, and see what happens - if what you are doing is legal, then you probably have nothing to worry about
2) You could try searching the web for the information you seek. Just because this forum does not carry the information that does not mean that the information is NOT there. <i>If the information you find shows that the s/w developer has released the information you seek, please contact one of the moderators, so that we may open up your thread and keep it in mind when going through similar threads</i>
3) You could contact your software developer and see what they have to say. Yes, Microsoft often charges for phone support, but if your the administrator of a network and your situation is dire, a few bucks either way might let you sleep peaceful.