Replies

Hmm, I don’t know so much about USB etc. since I don’t use it for the moment. But after XP troubleshooting I’ve learned that not everything shows up in Device Manager, and in some cases when a driver install gets messed up you can end with several ghost monitors etc.

You can try this:
-in Device Manager click View | Show hidden devices, but I don’t think they will show up.

Better is to follow the workaround in:
KB315539 Device Manager Does Not Display Devices That Are Not Connected to the Windows XP-Based Computer

I quote:
-at a command prompt type (and press Enter):
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
-change dir. to WindowsSystem32
-type and press Enter:
-start devmgmt.msc
-In Device Manager click Show hidden devices in View menu.

You should be able to see installed devices that are not connected for the moment.

I have a external serial port modem and this … can not be found by XP if not present during boot, this odd behavior is “by design” as in Win2000. In Win95 you could turn off and on any time and just connect, ah well, so I agree with kaplinb; keep it connected on power up.

Regards,
Argus

Hmm, I don’t know so much about USB etc. since I don’t use it for the moment. But after XP troubleshooting I’ve learned that not everything shows up in Device Manager, and in some cases when a driver install gets messed up you can end with several ghost monitors etc.

You can try this:
-in Device Manager click View | Show hidden devices, but I don’t think they will show up.

Better is to follow the workaround in:
KB315539 Device Manager Does Not Display Devices That Are Not Connected to the Windows XP-Based Computer

I quote:
-at a command prompt type (and press Enter):
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
-change dir. to WindowsSystem32
-type and press Enter:
-start devmgmt.msc
-In Device Manager click Show hidden devices in View menu.

You should be able to see installed devices that are not connected for the moment.

I have a external serial port modem and this … can not be found by XP if not present during boot, this odd behavior is “by design” as in Win2000. In Win95 you could turn off and on any time and just connect, ah well, so I agree with kaplinb; keep it connected on power up.

Regards,
Argus

I don’t share my computer, but I will try to give some advices that are for Windows XP Home. I also use Home. OK, first: use NTFS.
Second: in XP Pro you have the option to use Simple File sharing or not, in XP Home Simple File sharing is the only option.
To start with: if your account has an password (and it should) it makes sence to make your files Private. The OS give you the option to make them private when you set your password. If you have choosen not to make them private, you can do that later. Right click on “Document and settingsyour username” and select properties, share check make private.

Next: in XP Home, best way is to set up a limited account (no administrator) for thoose who you would like to share computer with.

In Windows XP Home you can change some file and folder security options if you choose to start Fail safe and then go to a folder and right click and selcet properties, you should now have a new tab Security. (Long time since I did this so not sure what is called.) But be carefull when you do this. You might want to set up a test folder to try with.

Regards,

I don’t share my computer, but I will try to give some advices that are for Windows XP Home. I also use Home. OK, first: use NTFS.
Second: in XP Pro you have the option to use Simple File sharing or not, in XP Home Simple File sharing is the only option.
To start with: if your account has an password (and it should) it makes sence to make your files Private. The OS give you the option to make them private when you set your password. If you have choosen not to make them private, you can do that later. Right click on “Document and settingsyour username” and select properties, share check make private.

Next: in XP Home, best way is to set up a limited account (no administrator) for thoose who you would like to share computer with.

In Windows XP Home you can change some file and folder security options if you choose to start Fail safe and then go to a folder and right click and selcet properties, you should now have a new tab Security. (Long time since I did this so not sure what is called.) But be carefull when you do this. You might want to set up a test folder to try with.

Regards,

regnel

No, it does not mean that is wasn’t properly installed. In some cases you will find that the reported size is missing for any installed program. There are also cases where reported size is not correct, ex. a installed program might have a reported size of 2 MB, when in fact the installation is maybe 20-30 MB.

New users to Windows XP may want to use the “add/remove” to check if a program is installed and thats OK, but it’s not always the best way. Just look at “add/remove” as an easy tool to uninstall software. Microsofts KB on the subject for the specific update shows how to verify an install by looking in the registry. There are also programs that can help to tell which software and updates are installed.

Regards,
Argus

regnel

No, it does not mean that is wasn’t properly installed. In some cases you will find that the reported size is missing for any installed program. There are also cases where reported size is not correct, ex. a installed program might have a reported size of 2 MB, when in fact the installation is maybe 20-30 MB.

New users to Windows XP may want to use the “add/remove” to check if a program is installed and thats OK, but it’s not always the best way. Just look at “add/remove” as an easy tool to uninstall software. Microsofts KB on the subject for the specific update shows how to verify an install by looking in the registry. There are also programs that can help to tell which software and updates are installed.

Regards,
Argus

Bob

You mentioned earlier that change of a memory stick from one slot to another would not have any effect on WPA, that is true.
My understanding of how it works is that memory installed is one of maybe 10 hardware devices that’s monitored. In the case of memory, it seems like they look at ranges 0-64, 64-128 MB etc.

As I mentioned in “my” other thread one side effect of moving memory was that DMI info. now reported 1024 MB instead of 768 MB (which also was wrong, installed is 256 MB). Maybe it was this change of the amount of memory reported that was one of the triggers. I certainly don’t have any way to change what is wrong in DMI. When the 256 MB memory stick was in Bank 0, it somehow override the wrong info (512 MB), when I moved the 256 MB stick to Bank 1(which in DMI is Empty), the info. from DMI for Bank 0 came forward reporting 512 MB in Bank 0.

The total amount thus changed from 768 MB (wrong) to 1024 MB (wrong), Windows in almost every place and other programs report 256 MB, but when using programs like AIDA32 the report 1024 MB when looking at DMI info, on memory pages they report 256 MB. And I know AIDA32 and other such programs warn that reported info. from DMI can be wrong. On the other hand; WPA didn’t show up directly when memory was moved.

Well this is end of story, going to reinstall, see you on the other side. Thanks to everyone that has helped and given good advice.

Regards,

Argus

Bob

You mentioned earlier that change of a memory stick from one slot to another would not have any effect on WPA, that is true.
My understanding of how it works is that memory installed is one of maybe 10 hardware devices that’s monitored. In the case of memory, it seems like they look at ranges 0-64, 64-128 MB etc.

As I mentioned in “my” other thread one side effect of moving memory was that DMI info. now reported 1024 MB instead of 768 MB (which also was wrong, installed is 256 MB). Maybe it was this change of the amount of memory reported that was one of the triggers. I certainly don’t have any way to change what is wrong in DMI. When the 256 MB memory stick was in Bank 0, it somehow override the wrong info (512 MB), when I moved the 256 MB stick to Bank 1(which in DMI is Empty), the info. from DMI for Bank 0 came forward reporting 512 MB in Bank 0.

The total amount thus changed from 768 MB (wrong) to 1024 MB (wrong), Windows in almost every place and other programs report 256 MB, but when using programs like AIDA32 the report 1024 MB when looking at DMI info, on memory pages they report 256 MB. And I know AIDA32 and other such programs warn that reported info. from DMI can be wrong. On the other hand; WPA didn’t show up directly when memory was moved.

Well this is end of story, going to reinstall, see you on the other side. Thanks to everyone that has helped and given good advice.

Regards,

Argus

Bob

So if you have a working OS etc. and for any reason whatsoever do a format and install the OS, you don’t need to activate???

I have to correct myself, in my first post I said that I thought the grace period was prolonged to more than 3 days with the SP1, the fact is that before SP1 you had no grace period at all if major changes was detected. Next boot and you had to activate. With SP1 installed the grace period, if major changes are detected, is 3 days. Sorry, but when this WPA-crap came up I was confused, and still am.

Argus

Bob

So if you have a working OS etc. and for any reason whatsoever do a format and install the OS, you don’t need to activate???

I have to correct myself, in my first post I said that I thought the grace period was prolonged to more than 3 days with the SP1, the fact is that before SP1 you had no grace period at all if major changes was detected. Next boot and you had to activate. With SP1 installed the grace period, if major changes are detected, is 3 days. Sorry, but when this WPA-crap came up I was confused, and still am.

Argus

Yes, it is complicated, and it works different on laptops and desktops etc. etc. I have read papers on that. I’m so annoyed that I don’t give for it.

Well as you maybe read this is an OEM. As I understand it there are two major ways for OEM’s to pre-activate: one way is the normal way for retail buyers, and the other, I quote:

“Some OEMs may protect Windows XP using a mechanism which locks the installation to OEM-specified BIOS information in the PC. This technology works very similar to existing technologies that many OEMs have used over the years with the CDs they ship to reinstall Windows on these computers. We expanded and integrated the existing OEM CD BIOS locking mechanism with product activation, and call this method of protection

Yes, it is complicated, and it works different on laptops and desktops etc. etc. I have read papers on that. I’m so annoyed that I don’t give for it.

Well as you maybe read this is an OEM. As I understand it there are two major ways for OEM’s to pre-activate: one way is the normal way for retail buyers, and the other, I quote:

“Some OEMs may protect Windows XP using a mechanism which locks the installation to OEM-specified BIOS information in the PC. This technology works very similar to existing technologies that many OEMs have used over the years with the CDs they ship to reinstall Windows on these computers. We expanded and integrated the existing OEM CD BIOS locking mechanism with product activation, and call this method of protection

SMBP
I remember that I’ve some time ago read an article on WPA in XP, I don’t know if it was http://www.theeldergeek.com/
Anyhow I thought there was a change made with SP1, that the “grace period” when major changes was made, was prolonged to more than 3 days.

I don’t know how MS counts, but the OS was once installed when the computer was new. After some months I had it sent for a minor service, change CPU fan (damit I could have done it better, quicker, cheaper, but it was under warranty). When it came back it was time for SP1, and I also wanted to change partitions. Thus a complete format install etc. in November. Since then I’ve only changed the memory stick position. Also, thus there are more than 120 days since November.

Yepp, maybe call them, I cannot see why it wont work over Internet, since I have not been repeatedly activating it. I don’t think I can get any other direct support from them since this is a OEM OS copy.

But… why would I activate it now. Just to get rid of WPA, and go back to my err. system that sometimes BSOD, sometimes freeze, problem with DirectX etc. If the only (or best) solution in the end is reinstall, well then I do have to activate again.

SMBP, and everyone that has helped with good advice on earlier threads regarding latest problems; I certainly appreciate it and that the effort should be in every case to try to solve the problem and not just go for a format/reinstall solution.

Regards,
Argus

SMBP
I remember that I’ve some time ago read an article on WPA in XP, I don’t know if it was http://www.theeldergeek.com/
Anyhow I thought there was a change made with SP1, that the “grace period” when major changes was made, was prolonged to more than 3 days.

I don’t know how MS counts, but the OS was once installed when the computer was new. After some months I had it sent for a minor service, change CPU fan (damit I could have done it better, quicker, cheaper, but it was under warranty). When it came back it was time for SP1, and I also wanted to change partitions. Thus a complete format install etc. in November. Since then I’ve only changed the memory stick position. Also, thus there are more than 120 days since November.

Yepp, maybe call them, I cannot see why it wont work over Internet, since I have not been repeatedly activating it. I don’t think I can get any other direct support from them since this is a OEM OS copy.

But… why would I activate it now. Just to get rid of WPA, and go back to my err. system that sometimes BSOD, sometimes freeze, problem with DirectX etc. If the only (or best) solution in the end is reinstall, well then I do have to activate again.

SMBP, and everyone that has helped with good advice on earlier threads regarding latest problems; I certainly appreciate it and that the effort should be in every case to try to solve the problem and not just go for a format/reinstall solution.

Regards,
Argus

OK, for the moment is the subject not completely true. It is possible to start the computer etc. if you’ve followed the thread.
To day I also found my Media Player 9 files so I could do a reinstall. It worked very well, the patch KB 819639, is already there and will not install again. So far WMP is up and running like ever before.
Thats always something…

Argus