Windows XP How-To’s

1. How to disable welcome screen?

To disable the Welcome Screen, you must be logged in as an Administrator & follow the
directions below:

1) Click on Start
2) Click on Control Panel

3) Double-click on User Accounts

4) Click on "Change the way users log on or off"

5) Uncheck "Use the Welcome Screen" 6) Click on Apply Options

6) Close the User Accounts window and the Control Panel

7) The next time you reboot your computer, the classic login prompt will be used

Note: this will also disable "Fast User Switching")

2. How to create an administrator user?

You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in

order to complete this procedure.

> Go to Control Panel

> Click on User Accounts
> Select User type as Administrator User

3. How to create a limited user?

You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in

order to complete this procedure.

> Go to Control Panel

> Click on User Accounts
> Select User type as Limited User

4. How to change the password of the user?

You must be logged on as a User for which you want to change password.

> Go to Control Panel

> Click on User Accounts
> Select your user account & select Change my password
Note: Administrator can’t change a User’s password on a Work station or Domain. But
can create a new password for a user in Domain scenario only.

5. How to disable/enable the guest user?

You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in

order to complete this procedure.

> Go to Control Panel

> Click on User Accounts
> Select User type as Guest
o To turn on the guest account, click Turn On the Guest Account.

The guest account will be activated. Now, a user without a user account on
the computer can log on to the computer at the Welcome screen.

o To turn off the guest account, click Turn off the guest account.

The guest account will be deactivated. Now, users without a user account
on the computer will not be able to log on to the computer.

6. How to change the picture of the user?

To Create an Administrator User you need to first Login with any Administrator Group
account & follow below steps

> Go to Control Panel

> Click on User Accounts
> Select User type as Guest

7. How to change the menu view?

Right click on Taskbar & select Properties
Select Start Menu Tab & Select Check Menu of your choice

8. How to run scandisk?

9. How to run chkdsk?

Click on Start button

Go to Run
Type chkdsk

10. How to run Recovery console?

Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP
CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer. Click to select any
options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are
prompted.

When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console, If
you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must
access from the Recovery Console. When you are prompted, type the Administrator
password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
For a list of commands that are available in Recovery Console, type recovery console commands or help at the command prompt, and then press
ENTER.

11. How to create password rescue (reset) disk?

Goto Start Menu -> Control Panel -> User Accounts
Click your Account Name

12. How to enable CD burning feature?

13. How to disable error reporting?

14. How to invoke Device manager?

Right click My Computer
Click on Manage
A window named Computer Management opens.
Select Device Manager in System Tools section

15. How to make the inactive icons displayed on the desktop?

16. How to disable visual themes?
17. How to disable the welcome screen?
To disable the Welcome Screen, you must be logged in as an Administrator & follow the
directions below:

8) Click on Start
9) Click on Control Panel

10) Double-click on User Accounts

11) Click on "Change the way users log on or off"

12) Uncheck "Use the Welcome Screen" 6) Click on Apply Options

13) Close the User Accounts window and the Control Panel
 14) The next time you reboot your computer, the classic login prompt will be used

Note: this will also disable "Fast User Switching")

18. How to enable/disable automatic updates?

19. How to set a password to the guest user?
20. How to install a printer?
21. How to restore a corrupted file?
22. How to run a program in compatibility mode?
23. How to set a service to Automatic?
24. How to uninstall Windows messenger?
25. How to install a windows component?
26. How to perform System Restore?

27. How to Start the computer in Last Known Good Configuration?

To start the computer using the last known good configuration

1. Click Start, and then click Shut Down

2. Select Restart, and then click OK

3. Press F8 at the indicated time:

4. Use the arrow keys to select Last Known Good Configuration, and then press
ENTER.
NOTE: NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will
function
5. Use the arrow keys to highlight an operating system, and then press ENTER

28. What is the command to perform system restore from command prompt?

C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

29. How to perform driver rollback?

To roll back to the previous version of a driver

 Open Device Manager

 Right-click the device for which you want to reinstall the previous version of
the driver, then click Properties.
 Click the Drivers tab.
 Click Roll Back Driver.
 You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators
group in order to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a
network, network policy settings might also prevent you from completing this
procedure.
 If you are not an administrator or a member of the Administrators group, you can
use Run as to perform certain administrator functions.
30. What are the different ways to access services in Windows XP?