Flying Start

Posted on 1 Jul 2002 at 12:22

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Running Older Programs under Windows XP
For an older program that creates problems under Windows XP, try setting compatibility properties to run it in a different mode. Right-click the program or its shortcut, and select Properties. Click on the Compatibility sheet and select 'Run this program in compatibility mode', choosing an operating system such as Windows 95 or 98. Change display settings if required and click OK. Then run the program again. Try different compatibility settings, until you find the best fit.
Preserve your Privacy
When you play a CD, Windows Media Player downloads the artist, song titles and album covers from the Internet. It also uploads the unique identifier for your copy of Media Player. This is ostensibly to monitor your connection and improve playback quality. If you'd rather stay anonymous, open Media Player and select Tools, Options and the Player tab. Clear the option to Allow Internet sites to uniquely identify your player.
Generate a System Report
To check how long your computer has been switched on, and what 'hot fixes' (online updates, see below) have been installed during that time, open the Command Prompt and type systeminfo. The utility will collect this and other information about your computer and display the results. To save the information to a file, you'd enter systeminfo>c:\sysinfo.txt. This command is for the Professional squadron only, since it isn't provided in the Home edition.
Automatic Windows Update
Windows XP automatically scans for and downloads software updates, and then prompts you to install them. To change this behaviour, open System in Control Panel and choose Automatic Updating. Select the option that suits you. If you decide to check for updates manually, open Internet Explorer and select Windows Update from the Tools menu to visit the Windows Update site.

Author: Mike Price and Benny Har-Even